TAB Baldwin on Saturday reiterated his desire to help Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Basketball World Cup.
But on the aspect of being part of the coaching staff, Baldwin said it will be all up to head coach Chot Reyes to decide.
See Tab on Chot, his relationship with SBP, and best way forward for Gilas
In an interview on Power and Play with Noli Eala on Saturday, Baldwin said that he will always be supportive of the national team even after his unceremonious exit from the national team early this year.
However, Baldwin made it clear he is not after any position with Gilas or is pressuring anyone that he be part of the coaching staff again as, at the end of the day, the decision rests on Reyes.
Baldwin said he would be just as happy to support the national team as a fan.
“Always have been,” said Baldwin, when asked on whether he is willing to come back and help Gilas. “There’s no prevarication on my part for that. And boss MVP knows that.”
“And I think this should be on coach Chot’s decision. Nobody else is,” said Baldwin, days after speaking to SPIN.ph to talk about his departure from the national team.
It has been eight months since coach Tab Baldwin parted ways with the SBP.
Baldwin said he is not in a position to ask for a position, aware that Reyes or any national head coach for that matter, has the free hand on who should be part of the staff.
The Ateneno coach also said his resume as a coach should not just be the reason why he should be included in the coaching staff.
“If I were in Chot’s shoes, I wouldn’t want anybody telling me who I should have on my staff and who should I assemble. And Chot has to make that decision not just based on am I a good coach. He has to make that decision, if he is even thinking about that decision, based on would my inclusion be a positive for the program and the team.
“And that’s a complex question and a complex answer. I don’t think anybody of us should just think of that and look at it very simply as coach Tab’s coaching knowledge and experience be a benefit to the team. It’s much more than that, though I don’t want to impose any pressure on Chot,” said Baldwin.
Baldwin said that he is already satisfied with the fact that he is trying to help the national team by speaking out on the reason behind his exit with Gilas.
“From my position, if I can help, and I’m trying to help now, and if this is the sum total of the help I could give, that’s fine. And if it does help, great. So I want to leave it at that,” said Baldwin.
Baldwin said he also looks forward to being a fan in support of Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup.
“I think that we would all have to commit to being the greatest sixth man in the history of the sport for this team for the World Cup. And I want to be part of that sixth man as well,” said Baldwin.
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