New Zealand coach Tab Baldwin eyed to replace Chot Reyes

SBP executive director Sonny Barrios thinks Tab Baldwin, a coaching legend in New Zealand, will make the shortlist of candidates to become Gilas’ next head coach. MARK GIONGCO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines –The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is open to the possibility of tapping the services of a foreigner to coach the National team.

“We’re open [to the possibility of hiring a foreign coach],” SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, who is part of the screening and selection committee, said on Friday during an intimate forum with the Online Media Group at Country Spice restaurant in Quezon City.

But Barrios said, SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan preferred a Filipino manning the post.

“But frankly, Mr. Pangilinan always wants a Filipino presence if not Filipino as the head coach,” he said. “But the thing is today in the international level, you get the best minds you can get.”

The disbandment of the current Gilas Pilipinas team left the head coaching job, last held by Chot Reyes, vacant.

And Barrios said among possible candidates for the job was Tab Baldwin, a coaching legend in his native New Zealand and has been Gilas’ consultant since the 2013 Fiba Asia Championships.

“Baldwin is here and we get good experience from him,” he said.

According to Barrios, there is no timetable when a list of Gilas’ possible next head coach will be released with the board meeting just held last Tuesday but he expects Baldwin’s name to be in it.

“I don’t want to say he has a good chance or he has a chance. He’s part of the mix and I’d like to think he’ll be part of the shortlist,” he said.

The 56-year-old Baldwin has quite a resumé, which includes steering New Zealand to a fourth-place finish in the Fiba World Championship in 2002.

He also has vast knowledge with basketball in Asia having handled national teams of Jordan and Lebanon.

Baldwin is currently acting as consultant for the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the PBA.

Before Reyes, Serbian Rajko Toroman ran the sidelines for Gilas.

Barrios also assured that the Gilas program would continue contrary to earlier reports.

“I want to differentiate the Gilas team and the Gilas program. The team has been technically disbanded, the program is very much in place, very much active for review and for improvement,” Barrios clarified. “The program opened a lot of doors, created a vast network of programs both from the States and in Europe.”

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