Baldwin emphasizes role of Gilas’ guards

Tab Baldwin during Gilas Practice. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin is leaving no stone unturned as the squad prepares for the Fiba Olympic qualifying tournament.

And on Sunday, Baldwin was stern and he took notice of his point guards’ execution during the team’s early morning practice on Sunday.

Disappointed with the way the offense was ran, Baldwin huddled with his guards Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, and Kiefer Ravena after the session to reiterate their roles.

“It was a little bit about definition of roles,” explained Baldwin. “Point guards are near and dear to my heart because many years ago, that’s what I tried to play, but I think I understand that role better than, say, a post man’s role.”

“It’s an important role to me and it’s a broad role. It’s not just bring the ball up the floor and we’ve got some point guards that are great scorers, great individual players. But they have a job to run the team, too. And we’re just trying to help them understand that role, reinforce that role, and be very specific about what it means to do that job. And they want to understand what the national team demands of them. This isn’t TNT or GlobalPort or Ateneo.”

Castro understood why Baldwin called their attention after practice, and being with the coach long enough, he knows the guards must do more than what they have shown in the session.

“Alam ko na disappointed siya sa group namin kasi sobrang sama ng execution namin. Sinabi niya sa amin. Ganun naman siya eh. At least honest siya sa amin na disappointed siya. Next practice, dapat ma-improve yung execution at ma-correct yung nga mistake namin,” he said.

The TNT slasher also put the responsibility on his shoulders as one of the team’s veterans, as he knows he will be the one to guide the young guys like Romeo and Ravena in these practices.

“As one of the veterans sa team, kailangang hindi lang focus ko, but I also have to involve yung teammates ko kung ano yung mga ginagawa sa plays, sabihan sila kasi medyo masama yung execution namin kanina sa practice,” Castro said.

Baldwin said he and his coaching staff are now starting to focus on the specific roles for the players with the Manila qualifiers drawing closer and closer.

“We’re starting to lift the expectations of their execution of things and be a little bit clearer to them about what their roles are, defining the roles, and demanding that they execute their roles,” he said. “That settling-in process is important. We are making strides in that. It’s easier to work with the team once everybody is kind of teammates.”