MANILA, Philippines – The SBP search and screening committee, tasked to make a short list of candidates for the next Gilas Pilipinas coach, may start the process of naming names as it convenes in a meeting for the second time in nine days Wednesday.
“MVP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan) may have approved the criteria, and we may start making the short list,” SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.
On November 11, the special committee, composed of Barrios, SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas and PBA officials Chito Salud, Patrick Gregorio and Robert Non, had their initial meeting, coming up with a tentative set of criteria subject to the approval of Pangilinan.
The guidelines for the selection of the coach should’ve been finalized, having undergone the scrutiny of the SBP chieftain.
“What we don’t know yet is if everything has been approved. Pwedeng may binawas o dinagdag si MVP,” said Barrios.
The group is likely to hand the delicate job to a coach who has had a previous international exposure.
Among the top contenders should be Tim Cone, Jong Uichico, Yeng Guiao and Norman Black, who’ve had their turns coaching the national team.
Also being mentioned as possible candidates are Talk n Text consultant Tab Baldwin and former national player, coach and senator Robert Jaworski.
Former national coach Chot Reyes has given his take on the issue, saying Uichico, Black and Baldwin would be good choices if continuity of the Gilas program would be considered.
Reyes also gives his nod on Cone and Jaworski if they’re given enough time to prepare the team that eyes qualification to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
He said Uichico, Black and Baldwin would do a good job since they’ve been part of the program or part of his staff from the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, where the Philippines clinched qualifying ticket to the World Cup with its second-place finish behind Iran.