SINGAPORE - Gilas cadets head coach Tab Baldwin was far from satisfied with the way the national team played against Indonesia despite running away with an 81-52 win to open its campaign in the 28th Southeast Asian Games here.
Baldwin admitted the Filipinos didn’t play ‘Filipino basketball’ shortly after the 29-point rout of the Indons.
“I was discouraged and disappointed we didn’t play Filipino basketball,” Baldwin told Filipino reporters shortly after the win. “They are going to hear it from me.”
Kiefer Ravena sparked a Gilas breakaway in the third period to grab a 60-34 lead entering the final canto.
Still, the effort wasn’t enough to please the American-New Zealander, who felt the Filipinos didn’t play defense the way he wanted them against the overmatched Indons.
“We weren’t aggressive. Our defense was a shadow of what it was in the Seaba. We went more on an attacking offense and that’s what where we got the separation. But overall, I’m not happy,” said Baldwin.
“We saw too much passive basketball. It’s not our style and it doesn’t suit our team. It’s not what Filipino basketball is going to be while I’m coaching. We have to be aggressive,” he added.
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