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    Tab explains why Nieto twins, Go, Bulanadi, Suerte were picked for Gilas

    Baldwin explains process behind the decision to draft Isaac Co and Co. for Gilas
    Dec 9, 2019
    Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt Nieto, Allyn Bulanadi, Mike Nieto Gilas special draftees

    TAB Baldwin said five players picked in a special draft on Sunday will serve as building blocks for Gilas Pilipinas as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) lays down the foundation for the 2023 Fiba World Cup.

    Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi and twins Matt and Mike Nieto were released on loan to Gilas after being drafted, meaning they will be signed to contracts by the SBP and committed to play for the national team until 2023 unless released.

    Baldwin, who is set to assume the role of program director for the Gilas Pilipinas seniors' team, said the selections set in motion the SBP's program for the 2023 showpiece which the country will co-host with Indonesia and Japan.

    "It's an initiative by SBP, by the MVP group, by the Gilas management group that we're all part of, and obviously, the PBA is a part of it as well. It's with all of these parties, putting our heads together, finding players that are going to help us be representative now, but also are going to help contribute to the future of the Gilas program," he said.

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      The veteran internationalist explained that a lot of factors were taken into consideration before the five were picked for the program.

      "All kinds of things were considered. We were looking for character. We were looking for guys that we believe can help build a culture," he said, even using the selection of Ateneo forward Mike Nieto as an example.

      "I think Mike is maybe the best example of somebody that we believe has great leadership qualities and understands how to build a culture. He's been an integral part of doing that in Ateneo and we need that leadership role.

      "Mike's longterm prospects are up to Mike, but in the short term, we really believe that each of these guys plays a pivotal role, whether it's talent, whether it's able to recruit more players, whether it's building a culture, or whether it's just being able to be competitive in the early stages with the PBA players that we certainly are going to have to bring into this pool."

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      Baldwin explains that though teams, namely Columbian, Blackwater, NLEX, Alaska, and Rain or Shine, have already drafted one of each of the five, the only thing they own are the players' rights in the PBA, with the quintet set to be under contract with the SBP for the national team for the foreseeable future.

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      "(The players) will be playing exclusively for SBP, but we need to continue to evolve this program. You can't go to the February window with just five players," said the American-Kiwi mentor, with his focus on the first window of World Cup qualifiers set on February 2020.

      "Obviously it's still very early and we would love to have been able to choose more players, but there's a part of this where you say, 'Are these players going to be able to contribute to a Gilas program in some way?' We didn't just want to throw names there just to have names."

      It doesn't mean, though, that the players won't be able to suit up for their mother ballclubs until 2023, with Baldwin open to the idea of allowing these players to play in the PBA if the Gilas coaches deemed it fit.

      "For instance, if we felt it was in the best interest of Gilas that one of these players, or two or three or all five played in a PBA conference, we would discuss that with the PBA and we would see where we think it makes sense to all the parties involved," he said.

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      But that's where the catch is: it's Gilas' call at the end of the day.

      "Otherwise, the SBP and Gilas own their rights right now. We're responsible for training them and so that's how we're going to start it up."

      Baldwin also noted that this special Gilas round is not a one off, with the SBP and the PBA discussing on continuing this process to add more players to the national team pool moving forward.

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      "It's a continuing process," he said. "You'll see the same thing happening in next year's draft. But in the interim, we're going to need players. Where we get those players is still on the drawing board right now."

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