THE country’s hope to return to the Olympics after 44 years rests on the shoulder of American-New Zealander Tab Baldwin.
Baldwin got the nod of the search and selection committee after its meeting last weekend and his appointment was announced on Monday night.
In a report at www.interaksyon.com, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Vice Chairman Ricky Vargas said Baldwin has agreed to handle the Gilas Pilipinas for the next four years and could be extended for another year for the 2019 International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Basketball World Cup.
“It looks like he has already agreed and signed the contract,” Vargas was quoted in the web site.
“The deal is a four-year contract and, in the event that we will make it to the World Cup, there’s an option to be renewed for another year.”
The BusinessMirror first broke the news of Baldwin’s appointment as the head coach of the Philippine basketball team that will try to qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.
Baldwin replaced Chot Reyes at the helm of the PHL 5, which last saw action in the Olympics in 1972 in Munich, Germany, mentored by Ignacio “Ning” Ramos and led by cage greats Bogs Adornado, Manny Paner, Jimmy Mariano and Freddie Webb.
He worked with Reyes as a consultant during the team’s campaign in the 2013 Fiba Asia Men’s Championship held in the country to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Spain.
The 56-year-old Baldwin has handled Malaysia, Jordan and Lebanon, and steered his New Zealand squad to a semifinal stint in the 2002 World Cup, formerly the World Championship.