TAB Baldwin and Sandy Arespacochaga will form part of Mark Dickel’s initial coaching staff with Gilas Pilipinas for the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers.
Dickel confirmed that Baldwin and Arespacochaga will be part of his staff as he takes over the Gilas Pilipinas squad on an interim basis for the first window of the Fiba Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers in February.
“Obviously, coach Sandy and coach Tab are both going to be on the staff. The other guys, I believe will be finalized this week. I think that will be announced by the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) soon),” said Dickel.
A former coach of the Philippine national team, Baldwin will have a strong involvement with Gilas again being the program director. Arespacochaga, meanwhile, is the current head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas Youth and was also once part of the Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff.
Two more coaches are also being eyed to join the staff including former Alaska coach Alex Compton, according to a source.
Compton, who was once part of the coaching staff of Gilas Pilipinas at one point with Baldwin at the helm, is strongly being considered, the source said. Compton was the coach of Alaska from 2014 to 2019 before being replaced by Jeff Cariaso.
Sources, meanwhile, said Topex Robinson has already agreed to join Dickel’s staff with Gilas Pilipinas. Robinson is the current head coach of Lyceum in the NCAA as well as an assistant coach with Phoenix Pulse in the PBA.
Gilas Pilipinas will formally prepare for the Fiba Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers starting on Thursday ahead of matches against Thailand on Feb. 20 and Indonesia on Feb. 23.
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