At a crossroads: Chris Tiu ponders whether to continue basketball career
With a new coach taking over the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national program, former team captain Chris Tiu is at a crossroads about whether to continue on with his basketball career.
“It’s a new program, so I’m really not sure… kung kukunin pa nila ako,” Tiu told News5 on Wednesday.
“I’m still thinking if itutuloy ko, whether PBA or national team, or no more basketball.”
According Tiu, he figured his chances to be part of the national team once again diminished after Rajko Toroman left the program and Chot Reyes took over the helm. Tiu was known to be close to the Serbian coach, who designated him captain soon after the original SMART-Gilas squad was formed in 2009.
On Tuesday, Reyes named a pool of PBA players to compose the core of the program. He said that another pool composed of top amateur standouts will be named.
“The 16-man pool is a PBA pool,” wrote Reyes in a text message to News 5. “Chris is not in the PBA so he wasn’t included. He will be part of the cadet pool.”
Tiu has made public his desire to continue representing the national squad. While most of his colleagues from SMART-Gilas joined the PBA Rookie Draft last year, Tiu decided not to enter the PBA just yet in hops of donning the national colors once more.
He said there’s a 60 percent chance that he’ll carry on with his basketball career. Aside from hoops, he is also busy with various business interests and hosts several television shows. He has also previously indicated an interest in going into the political arena.
“Kaya ko pa naman mag-basketball competitively, and that’s why I want to play. And I don’t want to disappoint the fans,” he said. “God gave me talent for a reason.”
Source: Interaksyon.com MJ Marfori
