Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Gilas in PBA a possibility as travel restrictions remain, says Baldwin


Gilas Pilipinas bosses, led by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, have always aimed for the national team to get as much exposure as possible to help spur its growth.

Program director and head coach Tab Baldwin understands where the top brass is coming from. And he, too, wants the same.

“When MVP speaks, we all perk up both ears and make sure we absorb exactly what he says,” he told Radyo5’s Power and Play, Saturday.

“The essence of what the boss is saying is we need games. And he’s absolutely right.”

The bemedaled mentor, though, is also aware that there are various factors to consider in getting those games for the Filipino dribblers — mainly budget — especially since he prefers to take part in pocket tournaments overseas.

That is actually something that Gilas has done times in the past. For instance, in the last two editions of the FIBA World Cup, the Filipino dribblers participated in mini tilts as part of their gear-up for basketball’s grandest showpiece.

The Nationals planned to do the same earlier this year. They would have gone Australia to play tune-ups in preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers’ third window. They had to shelve those plans, though, due to travel restrictions brought about by the pandemic.

“How we go back getting those games; what games are available; what budgets exist for us to access those games,” enumerated Baldwin.

“Because to be perfectly honest, if we could go play in pocket tournaments in Serbia, in Germany, in France, in Estonia, and Argentina, they would be better prepared,” added the American-Kiwi coach.

“As long as they’re consistently available and we could have budget to go those, that would be preferable.”

That, for Baldwin, is really ideal for the program. But it isn’t lost on him that it is hard to accomplish. So the next best thing is to simply make do what they have. And one of the options they have is playing in the PBA.

#ReadMore  Paul Desiderio, Ron Dennison close chapter in friendly rivalry

Previous national teams have seen action in Asia’s first pro league. The current Gilas crew — bannered by top amateurs and PBA special draftees — could be next as the league opened its doors for them.

Last February, Commissioner Willie Marcial said that they are inviting Gilas to play as a guest team. And nothing has changed since then, as the league chief brought that up again now that the PBA is set to return next week.

Baldwin, himself a champion coach in the New Zealand NBL and once a consultant for TNT, is open to the idea.

“That’s the ideal world, and sometimes, all of a sudden, we don’t live in the ideal world. We live in our own world.

“And we have to make the best with it. And the PBA is certainly, you know, a potential possibility for us,” he closed.

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

With Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers concluding in a 70-87 thrashing at the hands of New...

Basketball

No matter where they play in the world, Gilas Pilipinas always draws the unwavering support of thousands of Filipino fans, filling arenas with their...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas Men’s worst stretch under head coach Tim Cone continued on Sunday as the Philippines suffered a lopsided 87-70 defeat against New Zealand...

Basketball

Sticking with the same 12-man roster, Gilas Pilipinas is preparing to wrap up the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers with an all-important clash against New...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone did not mince words after their stunning 91-84 defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei on Thursday evening....

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas suffered a shocking upset in the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, falling to Chinese Taipei, 91-84, on Thursday...

Basketball

Troy Rosario’s return to Gilas Pilipinas will have to wait. The veteran internationalist was the tough cut the coaches had to make in finalizing...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas wrapped up their campaign in the 2nd Doha International Cup with a tough 86-55 loss to Egypt early Monday morning (Manila time)...

Advertisement