AN online report in New Zealand beat the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in announcing that Tad Baldwin has been named new head coach of Gilas Pilipinas, the country’s men’s national basketball team.
The web site www.nzhoops.co.nz reported on Wednesday that Baldwin won’t be returning as head coach of the Tall Blacks in New Zealand and instead, the 56-year-old native of Jacksonville, Florida, has committed to go full time with Gilas.
The report added that Baldwin’s appointment will be officially announced in the coming days. The SBP has earlier promised to announce the new head coach who would replace Chot Reyes before Christmas.
Pressed for comment, SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios did not confirm nor deny Baldwin’s appointment.
“No confirmation from me. I’m in Geneva since the 13th. Maybe you should ask Baldwin,” Barrios told the BusinessMirror.
Barrios is with an SBP group in Geneva that is attending the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Basketball World Cup Bid Workshop. The Philippines is one of six countries on the Fiba short list hoping to host the 2019 World Cup.
The SBP has pruned down the candidates to two although the SBP did not reveal their identities. Baldwin and Talk ‘N Text Head Coach Jong Uichico are reportedly the two top choices, but apparently, Baldwin became the logical choice because Uichico is coach of Talk ‘N Text in the Philippine Basketball Association.
One of the major requirements set by the SBP for the new Gilas coach is for him to have a grasp of international basketball on top of a vast experience in international play. The new coach must also do full-time work for Gilas.
Baldwin coached the Tall Blacks from 2001 to 2006 and also handled the national teams of Malaysia, Lebanon and Jordan. He led New Zealand to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, formerly known as the World Championships, for his biggest accomplishment on the global stage.
After his stint as Reyes’s consultant in at 5’s in 2014 Fiba World Cup in Spain, Baldwin was hired also as a consutant for the Tropang Texters in the PBA.
The website added that with Baldwin bound for Gilas, the Hawke’s Bayhawks is now searching for his replacement.