Silver a ‘respectable’ Jones Cup finish for Gilas—Baldwin

Asi Taulava posts a selfie with Gilas teammates Terrence Romeo, Gary David, Sonny Thoss and Ranidel de Ocampo on his Instagram account upon the team’s arrival at Naia Monday after competing in the 2015 Jones Cup in Taiwan.

A silver medal may be a cause for celebration for a number of sportsmen, but Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin said their second place finish in the 2015 Jones Cup is “respectable.”

“It was a respectable outcome, I think, for us,” Baldwin said Wednesday during the team’s practice at Meralco Gym in Pasig. “I can’t rate it more than respectable.”

“It’s not my nature to applaud second-best,” the coach said.

READ: Gilas places second as Iran gets Jones Cup 2015 title

Gilas Pilipinas, the 2012 Champions, finished with a 5-2 win-loss record in the nine-team single round-robin tournament with a key loss against Asian nemesis and eventual champion Iran.

READ: With Blatche out of Jones Cup, ‘everybody will have to step up’

The Philippines had to play without naturalized import Andray Blatche, who had to return to the United States during the tournament, and relied on a smaller frontcourt in the seven-footer’s absence.

Top pick Moala Tautuaa, who has yet to play a single PBA minute, filled in as Blatche’s replacement.

“Given the circumstances, the performance was really good, a silver was like a commendation,” Baldwin said.

“For that I’m pleased,” he added. RAM