Baldwin: Pinoys passion for basketball unmatched

CHANGSHA – In a talk with the international media, Tab Baldwin marveled at how great it is to be the national coach of the Philippines.

Known to have handled many national teams in the world including New Zealand, Malaysia, Jordan and Lebanon, Baldwin was asked how it is to be with Gilas Pilipinas.

“Find me a better job, I don’t think you can,” said Baldwin, mentioning the warmth and passion of the Filipino basketball fans that one might not experience anywhere else.

“There’s no probably place in the world, that you’ll have 100 million passionate fans. You carry the weight of their expectations of course, but you carry the blessing of 100 million people who care what you do, who care for you,” he said.

He said it helped that he spent some time first as a coaching consultant before coming on board as head coach of Gilas Pilipinas.            

“It allowed me to know the players, it allowed me to understand the culture. It’s a phenomenal culture in terms of society, maybe the most humble and generous people I’ve been around,” he said.

“Sometimes that’s not a great thing in the environment of sports. But because their passion for basketball is so great, their league is so competitive and it fosters a high level of basketball, they kind of bring this warmth and passion as human being into the team environment,” he added.

As a basketball man, Baldwin said he’s in a great situation.

“Before I went to the Philippines, there’s a mystique about Philippine basketball because they haven’t been to international basketball tournament very much. It’s a place for imports. You heard stories about the level of basketball? The way you’re treated? They’re all true. I don’t think there’s a job I would prefer to have,” he said.

“I feel blessed. And it’s not just the great situation working for a great boss. It’s because of the caliber of people, the caliber of players I’ve to work. They’re very talented, very skilled, very passionate,” he added.