CHICAGO - The exhibition game between Gilas Pilpinas and the Ateneo Blue Eagles at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Moro Lorenzo gym was held behind closed doors.
But one man had the best seat in the house by straddling the sidelines and seeing every play unfold.
Tab Baldwin.
The former Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas program director and head coach of our national team was very pleased with what he saw in those four 12-minute quarters of tough but civil scrum.
READ: Kai Sotto finally shows up for Gilas practice
"Gilas has improved significantly from our late June scrimmage with them and with key pieces still yet to come, namely Kai Sotto and Jordan Clarkson, the team is looking much stronger.
"They still need more consistent perimeter shooting but Clarkson certainly fits that need and with June Mar (Fajardo) and Japeth (Aguilar) looking much healthier, they are becoming a team to be reckoned with."
Baldwin, who will oversee the Blue Eagles' title defense in the upcoming UAAP season, was similarly impressed with the coaching staff.
"Well, I can see the coaches diversifying their offensive systems to go to the strengths of their players and I'm sure that more is coming to exploit the strengths of players like Clarkson and (Justin) Brownlee."
After weeks of hardship where injuries and absences plagued team practices, it is pleasant to know that the team tasked to fly our flag in the world stage is marching in a direction that will allow it to put up a great fight against Angola, Italy and the potentially NBA players-infested Dominican Republic.
A PLANNED TRIP TO CHINA FOR A POCKET TOURNAMENT WILL ONLY SHARPEN GILAS' PREPARATIONS
As Baldwin peels back the curtain on what's going on behind the scenes with Gilas, a clearer picture emerges: Despite the continued assault on social media, coach Chot Reyes and his deputies - Tim Cone and Jong Uichico - have done a good job despite the challenges they faced early on.
But it is easy to understand the dislike being pelted toward the coach-on-leave at Tropang Giga of the PBA.
Chot Reyes is a good coach trapped in a villain's role.
Given the Filipino basketball fans' passion for the sport, the seat Chot is occupying now has always been a convenient, familiar dumping ground for their anger and frustrations.
In that poison well, the fine work that the national team coach does is often drowned by the noise of criticism.
Many may still remain unswayed regarding their opinion on Chot.
But after steering Gilas to a gold medal turn at the SEA Games, and then navigating the minefield of players' aches and unavailabilities. he is slowly proving that he may just be the right man for the job in the World Cup.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
