Gilas tabs Iran as 'benchmark' as FIBA Asia tiff nears

TAIPEI – Coach Tab Baldwin said they would use Iran as “benchmark,” hoping to approximate their cohesion and toughness as Gilas Pilipinas goes through the critical last two weeks of its buildup for the FIBA Asia Championship.

Baldwin and his coaching staff kept an eye on the Iranians throughout the just concluded Jones Cup in Taipei with the Middle Eastern power again expected to be the team to beat in the coming Asian meet.

Hamed Haddadi threw his weight around and the Iranians clobbered the Filipinos, 74-65, in their Jones Cup faceoff.

“There were lessons in that game and we will use that game as a kind of a benchmark, and will use some of the tactics that we need to use against Iran,” said Baldwin.

“That game will feature a lot in our final week of preparations,” Baldwin added.

The American-New Zealander bench tactician is especially concerned with Iran’s defense.

 “Their defense is so tough, we had trouble scoring with what we were running and how we were running it,” Baldwin said.

Another Gilas assignment is reintegrating Andray Blatche in their game after the 6-foot-10 naturalized player missed their Jones Cup campaign.

Baldwin stressed, though, that Gilas will not be “a Blatche show” on his return.

“By bringing him in, it doesn’t mean that everybody steps back. It’s not an Andray show and he knows that, probably more than anybody else,” said Baldwin.

“It’s faulty if you think that way. (In) the Philippines, its basketball players are not import-reliant players. The most important conference in the PBA is the all-Filipino because our players are such talented, stand-alone players. They can play this game without imports,” Baldwin pointed out.

“But of course Andray is such a great talent for us that we desire him to be there. We have to integrate Andray together,” Baldwin added. “When Andray comes in again, we have to incorporate everything with that. That’s a process and it takes time. It’s not something that’s done overnight.

Is Gilas’ second-place finish in the Jones Cup any indication that the team is close to achieving ideal form for FIBA Asia?

 “We’re better, but we’re not good enough. Are we close? No not really,” said Baldwin.