TAB Baldwin lauded the efforts made by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the PBA to free up three months in order for Gilas Pilipinas to prepare for the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup.
Baldwin said on Noli Eala's Power and Play program on Saturday that the decision by the PBA to play only two conferences next season to give way to Gilas Pilipinas was not easy to make since it affects not just the league but also the people behind it.
“A lot of people are applauding that and they should. It’s an extraordinary measure taken by the PBA and negotiated by the SBP. I think that, as a coach, I would love to be in that position. It would be a dream come true,” said Baldwin.
See Tab reiterates support for Gilas but says he's not seeking place on staff
The PBA decided to open the 48th season after the World Cup to give way to the Gilas preparations that will go full swing from June to August.
Baldwin, however, hopes that the coaching staff would be able to take advantage of the time. The former Gilas coach cited Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto, and the Filipino players abroad, who might not be available for the whole three months.
“Here’s the other side to it. It gives the coaching staff, coach Chot, and his staff, an immeasurable amount of time to prepare. But I wonder, is he going to have a full team. And for how much of that three months. Every minute of preparation that you would have a full team goes a long way towards being a strong basketball team. Every minute you don’t have a full team, you take away from the quality of preparation that three months gives you.”
Jordan Clarkson has committed to joining Gilas six weeks before the start of the Fiba Basketball World Cup.
“Obviously, I’m talking about the players like Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, the players playing in Japan, the players playing in Korea and Taiwan. How much of that three months will they be there. While the three months is great, what we really have to focus on is, Is Chot going to get one week with those guys or is he going to get one month which would be extraordinary in itself,” said Baldwin.
So far, Clarkson is the only one from the foreign-based Gilas players who have indicated their timeline, saying that he will be part of the preparation process for six weeks before the World Cup.
“The jury is still out on the value of that three months but it is an extraordinary measure achieved by the SBP and taken by the PBA,” said Baldwin.
The former Gilas Pilipinas mentor emphasized that the PBA is not the only sector that will be affected by the absence of a third conference.
“But it cannot be underestimated how difficult it was,” said Baldwin on the move of the PBA. “A lot of people say the PBA should be two conferences. I don’t think they stop about somebody who loses one whole conference of work in terms of media coverage. They don’t think about the ticket takers, the security people, the media people, all the people that would lose income because of there not being a third conference.”
“This is a huge step taken by the PBA and not taken lightly. And the fans must understand, this was not easy for the PBA to do. This wasn’t just a Gilas thing. It’s a PBA decision which is extraordinary and it’s a massive sacrifice,” Baldwin said.
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