Gilas confirm Tab Baldwin as new coach
MANILA (FIBA Asia Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The Philippines have unveiled Tab Baldwin as the new coach of the national team.
The 56-year-old has replaced Chot Reyes at the helm and will try to sustain the momentum that Gilas have been building since hosting the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila and finishing runners-up.
Reyes led the side at this past summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup but decided not to try and continue in the job.
Congrats to my good friend Tab Baldwin on being named new Gilas coach. The DDM lives on! pic.twitter.com/EEU0lrxw4W
— Chot Reyes (@coachot) December 22, 2014Baldwin served as a consultant to Reyes the past two summers.
"He's (Reyes) responsible for me sitting in this chair today," Baldwin said.
"He's a better friend to Gilas Pilipinas and basketball in this country for everything that has been done and will be done."
Baldwin is eager to get started.
Newly-installed Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin is eyeing to clinch a ticket to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de... http://t.co/FHYCtJtvO5
— GMANews Cebu (@GMANewsCebu) December 23, 2014"I am very excited," he said.
"This team is in good shape.
"The program is in good shape."
Baldwin is best known for his days as the boss of the New Zealand Tall Blacks, a side that he steered to the Semi-Finals of the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis.
He has plenty of experience in Asia, having led Lebanon, Jordan and Malaysia.
"My greatest desire is to bring justice to this job," Baldwin said.
"I wore the Gilas shirt before (as a consultant) but the shirt is a little bit heavier now."
The new coach is ambitious.
"I want to see Gilas Pilipinas in Rio (2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics) and gold medals hanging on our necks in the FIBA qualifiers," he said.
FIBA
