PBA ‘important’ for Gilas, says Baldwin

MANILA, Philippines – Over the past few years, the Philippine national basketball team and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) have worked hand in hand to come up with reasonable schedules in order for the league’s best players to render their services to Gilas Pilipinas.

More importantly, the PBA provides an avenue for the national team to find players who have the potential and capability to prove they have what it takes to be in international competition – an aspect new Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin is not taking for granted.

That’s why Baldwin, who took over for Chot Reyes in late 2014, has been spending as much time as possible watching PBA games to scout for potential cagers in addition to his duties as a team consultant for the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters.

READ: Fajardo has to ‘anchor’ national team, take more responsibility – Baldwin

But Baldwin is not just scouting for these players’ capabilities on the hardcourt. At least for the moment, he’s looking at players whose “intangibles” could fit in well for the national squad.

“There are a lot of players I need to see, and that’s why I go to PBA games every chance I have,” Baldwin said during day two of the try-outs for Sinag Pilipinas on Tuesday, March 3.

“I watch them play. That is part of the trial – the PBA. That’s why the PBA is so important. It’s a great indicator on many things, particularly the intangibles.”

Baldwin has been impressed by the on-court talent he’s seen so far, but ultimately, when it comes to choosing his final guys for Gilas, he will make that judgment with the intangibles also playing a big factor.

“If somebody had asked me three weeks after the first conference, I could have told you about the talent of every player, but it’s the intangibles that I continue to assess and evaluate,” said Baldwin.

“There are many players that are still very much under the microscope.”

Baldwin and his coaching staff are expected to make a decision on a pool of 16 for the Sinag team by the end of this week. About 25 collegiate and PBA D-League players have tried out for the team, which will include naturalized big man Marcus Douthit.

Sinag is expected to participate in the 2015 SEABA tourney from April 27-May 1, which will serve as the qualifier for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship this September in China where Gilas will compete. – Rappler.com