Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin felt proud despite the Philippines’ early exit in the 2016 Fiba Asia Challenge in Tehran, Iran.
The Filipinos just wrapped up their campaign with a 1-4 slate after a blowout loss to Jordan Wednesday, but Baldwin looked past the woeful record and instead commended the players and coaching staff’s efforts.
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“At that level, a bunch of inexperienced guys that I thought played extremely hard. I thought they grew, they learned as they went through the tournament,” Baldwin told reporters after Ateneo beat Far Eastern Universiry, 76-71, in the UAAP Season 79. “That’s exactly what we sent them there for. To those people that want some different result than what we sent them there for, it’s unrealistic. We said that before they went. We’re consistent in saying it now after the fact.”
“I’m proud of them. I’m proud they had the courage to go into that environment because that’s not easy for the kids, it’s not easy for that coaching staff.”
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Gilas may not have gotten the results it wanted in its first tournament together, but Baldwin thinks what’s more important was the team gained the experience it needed to be better.
“Obviously, everybody would like better results but nobody more than the players,” said Baldwin, who also serves as consultant to the Blue Eagles. “I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the effort they put in. I’m proud that they got a win. I’m proud that they showed effort and desire and puso the whole time and that’s what we asked of them.”
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“Now they come home more seasons players. Now they understand what it’s like and so we’re going to be better for that,” Baldwin added. “I’m not going to say I am pleased with the performances. I’m pleased with the effort.”