Tab Baldwin on Gilas Going Young: "For the Future"

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is sending what seems like the youngest Gilas Pilipinas squad in recent memory to the Olympic qualifying tournament and the third window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers. While any team competing in such tournaments would want to send the best team available, sticking with the young core is not a tough decision to make.

That is according to SBP Program Director Tab Baldwin.

Tuesday's episode of Hoops Life featured Tab Baldwin as a guest of Aaron Atayde and Jinno Rufino. For the head coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, the availability of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players for national team duties "is a topic that doesn't have an easy solution,"

While Baldwin expressed wanting to send the best players possible to a tournament such as the Olympic qualifying tournament, he also pointed out the importance of sticking to the program of the young team in preparing for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

"We are in a program where we are grooming talented young players of the future for the future. So, the decision wasn't really that tough when we knew that it could very be a useful exercise for our young players to go through these competitions and at the same time, we can continue to work hand-in-hand with the PBA and help them try to achieve, in these very, very difficult times, what they are trying to achieve for basketball, for the public,"

He added, "Comprises are always being made but at this particular point in time, because of the pandemic, because of the restrictions that exist, I think everybody has put on their goodwill hats and we're all trying to do what's best for basketball. And in the meantime, we're trying to put a competitive Gilas team on the floor and also prepare for future very, very important Gilas competitions,"

"For the future"

That's the plan for this young Gilas Pilipinas squad.

Screenshot is from the Smart Sports Facebook page