Tab Baldwin. PBA PHOTO
New Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin has submitted a list of 26 players to the PBA that will compose the national pool, but will do the rounds with the team owners first before making the names public.
Just over three months before the Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei, Baldwin, who was named to take over from Chot Reyes near the end of last year, came up with his wish list a couple of days ago.
Baldwin, a naturalized American, is being tasked to take the National five back to the Olympics, with the qualifying tournament set in China.
The Jones Cup is the best tune-up tournament for most of the teams in the region before going to the Fiba Asia Championship, where the winner will get an Olympic slot.
The Philippines last won the Jones Cup in 2012 by beating the United States in its final game with LA Tenorio winning Most Valuable Player honors. Reyes became the first Filipino coach to win that title.
Meanwhile, Sam Daghlas, the former star of the Jordan national squad, will suit up for Talk ‘N Text in the season-ending Governors’ Cup as the Tropang Texters’ Asian import.
Daghlas, who used the name Sam Douglas in his collegiate career in the United States, had a very colorful career as a national player for Jordan, joining the likes of naturalized player Rasheim Wright under Baldwin.
Another superstar Asian point guard being eyed by at least two teams is Iran’s Mahdi Kamhrani, who together with the 7-foot-2 National Basketball Association veteran Hamed Haddadi forms the Iranian’s formidable 1-2 punch.
Stephan Pettigrew will be the American import of the Texters.
Jordan placed second to China in 2011 in Wuhan, China.