With Chot Reyes taking over the men’s national basketball team once again, questions loomed on what role former head coach Tab Baldwin will play with the team.
After being tapped as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas back in 2015, Baldwin had a grand vision – a four-year plan to continue the country’s push of being relevant in the world basketball scene. However, just 22 months in, he has been relegated to consultant once more to Reyes.
The American-Kiwi, who mentored both the seniors team in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship and the FIBA OQT and the cadets pool in regional tournaments, can’t help but be disappointed with the decision of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“You know, it’s disappointing of course. My time with Gilas was a dream come true for me, in the head coaching role.
“The reason it was a dream come true is because I learned in my time here that the very thing that I’ve lived a whole life passionate about matched the passion of the people in the country,” the 58 year old mentor shared. “So I felt that I was a round peg in a round hole, so to speak. And so you know, that’s disappointing when that doesn’t continue.”
Baldwin though sees this ordeal as part of his own personal journey. Having mentored the New Zealand, Lebanon, and Jordan national teams in the past, he knows that this is part of entering a volatile field.
“It’s disappointing any time you lose a job. But I’ve learned quite a while ago that I can’t worry about things that I don’t control, and I don’t control the Gilas program,” he said after the Ateneo Blue Eagles defeated the UE Red Warriors, Wednesday afternoon.
“I think the players, the management, the people that were there with us, they know that me, our coaching staff, the players, we gave everything we had – as you’re supposed to. That’s not a pat on the back and that’s not asking for credit. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do, and I think that we did that.
“And you know, our management believes that at this point, that wasn’t good enough, so they’re gonna go in a different direction, and they are offering to take me along with them in another role, and I’ve always said that it’s an honor for me to work for MVP and the group, it’s an honor to work in the national program and for the people of the Philippines, and that doesn’t change,” he furthered.
But Baldwin is hoping that he can still contribute to the program as he does not see the consultant label as a demotion.
“However, I still have an opportunity to work with Gilas, still be part of the program, I can’t say anything other than how passionate I am about Gilas being successful. It really doesn’t matter who’s at the helm. It isn’t about me, it isn’t about any single individual,” he said.
“It’s about the national team and the national program. So being a part of that means giving everything I’ve got for them, which is what I did from Day 1 and what I will do until… whenever I’m finished with the program. And, you know, the bosses know that, Chot knows that. That’s where we’re at.”
