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Tab Baldwin, who is expected to be named as the new coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP in the next few days, will still handle the Gilas Pilipinas program and receive all the resources he needs to perform his dual tasks.
A source privy to the Ateneo-Baldwin deal made this assurance after confirming the looming appointment of the American-New Zealander as Ateneo head coach.
Baldwin, who has a long-term contract with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to handle the country’s national team program, will still coach Gilas Pilipinas when the Filipinos gun for one of three remaining berths in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in a wild-card tournament, set in July 4 to 11 next year.
The new national pool, composed of PBA superstars, started working out last month, and Baldwin is expected to order stepped-up preparations once the pro league season ends.
“That was a concern of coach Tab,” the source told the Inquirer. “He really wants to be able to prepare Gilas the best he could.”
The source said Baldwin can, among other things, hire new personnel to assist him at the Ateneo bench if needed.
The source also said that backers of the Ateneo basketball program, led by tycoon SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, don’t see any problem cropping up with the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) if Baldwin gets the appointment.
Made up of coaches coming from all levels in the country, the BCAP has been very vocal in opposing appointments of foreign mentors in the past, the latest being the case of coach Joe Ward of University of the Philippines.
Ateneo, which ruled the UAAP with an iron hand for five years from 2008 under Norman Black, finished third in this year’s season under the resigned Bo Perasol.