AS happy as Tab Baldwin is for Kymani Ladi’s Gilas Pilipinas call-up, the Ateneo coach is hopeful that the rules for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand won’t stop that from happening.
“I hope that he jumps at it and I hope the rules don't change to prevent him [from playing]. But we'll have to wait and see on that one,” he said of his 6-foot-7 high-flyer.
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Baldwin is wary of the situation even after coach Norman Black picked the lengthy Blue Eagles forward to be part of his national pool for the SEA Games.
That anxiety is warranted considering the uncertainty of the rules for this year’s SEA Games after host Thailand initially said that players only need a passport to be eligible to play.
Of course, those can still change at the pleasure of the local organizing committee.
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Still, Baldwin can’t wait for Ladi to don those Gilas colors and try to win a gold medal in the biennial showcase.
“Any person that's involved in the sport who gets the opportunity to represent their country, and I've been on the record on this for years, it's the highest honor. And I'm very proud of him for being afforded that opportunity,” said the former national team shot-caller.
“But I feel pretty certain that he'll be excited to put on the Gilas colors and walk out on the court and represent his country, and we'll all be very proud of him if he gets that opportunity. I have no doubt that he'll be very honored cause he's just that kind of kid.”
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