THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced on Sunday Tab Baldwin’s appointment as head coach of the national men’s team that will see action in the third and final window of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga.
The federation made the announcement in a virtual press conference ahead of the qualifiers for Group A—Philippines, South Korea and Indonesia—which begins on Wednesday at the Clark and Angeles University Foundation University bubble.
Baldwin will also coach Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, which kicks off on June 29
“I have accepted the opportunity and the challenge to be Gilas Pilipinas’s head coach at this time,” Baldwin said in a statement sent by Ryan Gregorio, Special Assistant to SBP President Al Panlilio.
The 63-year-old American-Kiwi coached the national from 2014 to 2016 and earned a gold medal at the Singapore Southeast Asian Games and silver medals at the William Jones Cup in Taiwan and Fiba Asia Championship both in 2015.
The SBP tabbed Baldwin as Gilas’s project director after 2016. He replaced Jong Uichico, who slid as one of his assistants, at Gilas’s helm.
“I’m honored to continue working with this outstanding coaching staff as we strive to take these next steps to the direction we envision for 2023,” Baldwin said. “I’m hoping that my international coaching experience and familiarity with our playing systems will be an additional asset to the team in the upcoming challenges the team is facing.”
The Philippines plays South Korea on June 16, Indonesia on June 18 and South Korea again on June 20. The top two teams in the group will join host team Indonesia in the the Fiba Asia Cup in August.
The 14-player national pool includes Ange Kouame, Dwight Ramos, Jordan Heading, William Navarro, Isaac Go, Tzaddy Rangel, Jaydee Tungcab, Mike Nieto, Justine Baltazar, Jason Credo, Carl Tamayo, Allein Bulanadi, Kenmark Carino, Geo Chiu and LeBron Lopez.
The Fiba, meanwhile, gave the go signal Saturday on for recently-naturalized 6-foot-11 Kouame’s eligibility to play for the Philippines.
Gilas, under Uichico’s watch, beat Thailand twice—93-61 and 93-69—in the second window played in Manama, Bahrain, last November. Counting the team’s victory over Indonesia, 100-75, in Jakarta, the Philippines is unbeaten in three games in the group.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority Chairman and President Vince Dizon, Clark Development Corporation President and CEO Manuel Gaerlan and SBP executive director Sonny Barrios and director for operations Butch Antonio joined Gregorio on the virtual press conference panel at the Quest Hotel in Clark.