AS Gilas Pilipinas fans await the announcement of a permanent coach and a new pool of players for 2024, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) made it clear that one name won't be on the shortlist of coaches' candidates.
Goorjian, of course, would no doubt be a perfect choice. The American-Australian has had great success everywhere he coached, winning six championships in the NBL Australia and leading the Boomers to a first-ever Olympic medal with a bronze-winning campaign in Tokyo in 2021.
READ SBP to name permanent Gilas coach, new pool of players 'very soon'
Even better, Goorjian made it clear he is open to all options once his contract with Australia's national team expires after the Paris Olympics and expressed interest in coaching either Gilas or one of the teams in the PBA.
However, newly installed SBP executive director Erika Dy admitted Goorjian, 70, is not on the shortlist of candidates for Gilas coach, for the simple reason that he is still under contract with Basketball Australia and any negotiations with him would be considered improper.
Given how the SBP's relationship with Basketball Australia is on the mend after the brawl between Gilas and the Boomers at the Philippine Arena in 2018, the last thing SBP wants at this time is to ruffle the Aussies' feathers.
“I don’t think coach Brian is part of that," Dy said. "We can’t negotiate with him yet as he is still under contract with Australia. And the fact that we need to solidify our program as tournaments will roll in in the next few months made us proceed with our own head hunt."
“We have a very good relationship with Australia and we would want to keep it that way. But, coach Brian has a very impressive track record not just in Australia, in the NBL but also internationally," the SBP executive director said.
But that doesn't end there.
The Boomers didn't do well at the last Fiba World Cup in Manila and another poor showing in the Paris Games may see an end to that relationship. Then, and only then, can Gilas consider the multi-titled veteran coach.
“If he will be available to help Gilas in the future, we can always explore the possibility," Dy said. "As long as it will be beneficial for the development of Gilas and Philippine basketball in general, we would always give it a second look."
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