Tab Baldwin back as Gilas Pilipinas head coach

Tab Baldwin — PHOTO FROM FIBA.COM

MANILA, Philippines — Tab Baldwin returns as the head coach of Gilas Pilipinas in the coming window of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, replacing Jong Uichico.

“I have accepted the opportunity and the challenge to be  Gilas’ Head Coach at this time. I am honored to continue working with this outstanding coaching staff as we strive to take these next steps forward in the direction we envision for 2023,” said Baldwin.

“I’m hoping that my international coaching experience and familiarity with our playing systems will be an additional asset to the team in the upcoming challenges the team is facing.”

Baldwin previously led the Philippines to two silver medal finishes in the William Jones Cup and the Fiba Asia Championship and a gold in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.

Baldwin, who is also Gilas’ program director, becomes the third head coach of the team in the Asia Cup Qualifiers with Mark Dickel first holding the position before Jong Uichico took over.

Dickel coached Gilas in a victory over Indonesia while Uichico led the team to two wins over Thailand in the second window.

While the task at hand is qualifying for the Asia Cup, and in the near future the Olympics, Baldwin said the program’s main vision is the 2023 Fiba World Cup.

“The players are responding very well to the system and to each other. Bumps along the road are inevitable due to their youth and relative lack of experience, but these could be double-edged swords too. I know that when push comes to shove, these men will not only move forward, but more importantly, they will rise up because of the energy, athleticism, and determination granted to them by their youth,” said Baldwin.

“This is a developmental team that is not eyeing perfection, but progress. When you plan for things in the long run, you prioritize progress more than perfection because it allows for more opportunities to grow and learn. This is what I believe can make us worthy of a spot in the 2023 world stage.”