Maliban kina Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny Pangilinan, sa pamunuan ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) at selection committee, pinasalamatan ng bagong nahirang na gilas Pilipinas coach na si Tab Baldwin ang kanyang pinalitang si coach Chot Reyes.
``Special thank you for coach Chot, he`s reponsible for me sitting in this chair,” ani Baldwin.
Pormal na inanunsiyo nina Ricky Vargas ng SBP at PBA commissioner Chito Salud ang pagkakahirang kay Baldwin bilang bagong head coach ng Gilas noong nakaraang Martes ng gabi.
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Magsisimla ang panunungkulan ni Baldwin, na siya ring mamamahala sa kabuuan ng basketball development program ng SBP, sa Enero 1, 2015.
``Tab Baldwin will be the Gilas Pilipinas coach until 2019,`` ani Vargas. ``He will be in charge of the whole basketball development program of SBP.``
``We went through a selection process, we deliberated and he is the best among all of them and the most fit in the criteria,`` dagdag pa nito.
Kabilang sa selection commitee na nagrekomenda kay Baldwin ay sina Vargas, Salud, PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, at PBA vice chairman Robert Non.
Sa panig naman ng PBA, kung saan ay manggagaling ang mga manlalaro na bubuo sa koponan, sinabi ni Salud na suportado nila ang national basketball team program.
Gayundin, pinasalamatan nila si Reyes sa pagtatag nito ng matibay na pundasyon para sa Gilas na magsisilbi umanong plataporma kung saan ay ipagpapatuloy ni Baldwin.
Katunayan umano, bilang pagbibigay ng sapat na panahon para makabuo ng team at makapaghanda ang mga ito nang husto, iniurong nila ang pagtatapos ng 40th season ng liga mula sa Agosto 7.
``We’re way ahead from the time Mr. Pangilinan decided to undertake a Sportsselection process of a new coach the PBA immediately discussed a compression of schedule we moved the end of the season from August 7. It will be a good 9-10 weeks training, schedule-wise the PBA is ahead. Next process will be who are the players Tab Baldwin wants. Let’s give Mr. Pangilinan and coach Baldwin time,`` pagpapaliwanag ni Salud.
Sa panig naman ni Baldwin, sinabi nito na sabik na siyang magsimula sa kanyang trabaho dahil alam niyang may maganda at maayos na team at programa siyang hahawakan.
Ngunit aminado siyang mas mabigat ngayon ang nakaatas sa kanyang tungkulin dahil na rin sa mas mataas na expectation ngayon mula sa naabot ng koponan sa nakalipas na mga taon, mula nang makuwalipika sa FIBA World Cup.
``Higher rankings, greater honors in the international scene. My greatest desire is to bring justice to this job. Shirt is a little bit heavy now, it`s an important job to be a part of the national team,` ani Baldwin.
``Other details have yet to be planned out as we build these group of people (players, coaches, management team). We want our program to be regarded for the quality of our team. We are in discussions about that very point, as expected we’re working together nobody wants to sacrifice that togetherness. This is a very important process, I don’t want to do this alone (re-selection of players),`` ayon pa kay Baldwin na nakatakdang iwanan ang kanyang pagiging consultant sa Talk `N Text sa PBA.
``I have a lot to learn about these men. We dont have any timelines yet. Full of talent in this country especially in the guards. FIlipino players play with incredible level of confidence tempered with systems that can be achieved in international basketball. I want to see Gilas Pilipinas in Rio and gold medals hanging on our necks in the FIBA qualifiers,``dagdag pa nito.
