Tab Baldwin named new Gilas coach

MANILA, Philippines — American mentor Tab Baldwin has been named new head coach of the Philippine men’s national basketball team on Monday, according to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios.

Baldwin, a celebrated coach in New Zealand, has agreed to a four-year contract to call the shots for Gilas Pilipinas.

Baldwin’s appointment as head coach will be formally announced in a press conference on Tuesday before Game 3 of the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series between the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters and the San Miguel Beermen at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Baldwin is no stranger to international basketball having coached New Zealand, Jordan, Lebanon and Malaysia. He steered New Zealand to a semifinals stint in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis.

Baldwin is also familiar with the current Gilas program after he was brought in by former national coach Chot Reyes last year as team consultant starting from the 2013 Fiba Asia campaign here to the 2014 Fiba World Cup in Spain and the Incheon Asian Games in Korea.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) disbanded the team following its disappointing performance in the Asian meet, where it slumped to its worst-ever finish at seventh.

Baldwin, 56, will be tasked to lead Gilas’ bid to qualify for the 2016 Olympics and return to the World Cup in 2019.