KINUHA ng Gilas Pilipinas ang tatlong beteranong coaches upang makatulong ni Gilas head coach Jong Uichico at program director Tab Baldwin para sa darating na third window ng 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Ang nasabing tatlong coaches ay sina Meralco head coach Norman Black, Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia at Gilas Youth head coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

Sila ang napili ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas upang maging assistant coaches para sa national team na isasabak sa huling bahagi ng qualifiers.

“We are really trying to cast the net wide and bring more coaches to be exposed to the national team environment and gain more international experience. We are two-plus years out from 2023. It’s about bringing a lot of people in as we get closer to 2023,” ani Baldwin.

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Nagbabalik si Black sa Gilas pagkaraan ng tatlong taon. Nauna na syang naging bahagi ng koponan noong 2011 hanggang 2018 bilang isa sa mga deputies ni coach Chot Reyes.

Nagsilbi ding head coach si Black ng Sinag Pilipinas na nagwagi ng gold medal noong 2011 Southeast Asian Games.

Si Garcia naman ang deputy head coach ng Gilas sa ilalim ni coach Yeng Guiao na naupo bilang mentor ng national team mula sa fourth hanggang final window ng 2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, 2018 Asian Games, at sa mismong 2019 World Cup.

Bukod naman sa pagiging head coach ng national youth team, si Arespacochaga ay deputy din ni Baldwin sa Ateneo. Naging assistant coach din sya sa unang window ng Asia Cup Qualifiers noong Pebrero kasama sina Alex Compton at Topex Robinson kay interim head coach Mark Dickel.

Nakatakdang ganapin ang third window ng qualifiers sa susunod na buwan sa Pampanga.