TAIPEI – Isang veteran international coach na humawak ng mga koponan sa Europe, Oceania at Asia, sinabi ni coach Tab Baldwin na isang “a unique challenge” ang pamamahala niya sa Gilas Pilipinas.
Itinuturing niyang isang malaking hamon ang paggiya sa Nationals sa 2015 FIBA Asia Championship sa Changsa, China na nakatakda sa Setyembre 23 hanggang Oktubre 3.
“It’s a challenge and will continue to be a challenge. I would imagine right through the start of the games,” wika ni Baldwin.
“Every coaching job is challenging. This job has a unique challenge. Part of that is settling this roster and some semblance of cohesion,” dagdag pa nito.
Naipit sa mahirap na sitwasyon si Baldwin sa simula nang buuin ang Gilas Pilipinas training pool hanggang sa kanilang paghahanda para sa 2015 FIBA Asia meet kung saan nagkaroon ng isyu kina naturalized player Andray Blatche at Fil-Am guard Jordan Clarkson ng Los Ageles Lakers.
Nababanggit pa rin ng mga SBP officials ang mga pangalan nina June Mar Fajardo ng San Miguel at Paul Lee ng Rain or Shine.
Hindi pa napapangalanan ni Baldwin ang kanyang Final 12 para sa FIBA Asia Championship.
Wala pang katiyakan kung makakasama si Clarkson.
“We don’t know anything. Who knows, maybe the coaches are under instructions or maybe it’s the coaches’ decision. I don’t know. We can’t speculate as much as we like but I’m not a speculator,” ani Baldwin.