Hindi magiging bentahe sa Gilas Pilipinas ang pamilyaridad ni Baldwin sa New Zealand
MANILA, Philippines – Sa kabila ng pagiging pamilyar niya sa New Zealand team ay sinabi ni Gilas coach Tab Baldwin na hindi ito nangangahulugan na magkakaroon ng bentahe ang Nationals sa kanilang bakbakan sa Group B preliminary game ng FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament sa Hulyo 6 sa Mall of Asia Arena.
“I’m often in touch with (New Zealand coach) Paul (Henare) who was my point guard when I coached the Auckland Stars and the Tall Blacks at the Olympics and two World Cups,” sabi ni Baldwin. “We’re very close friends. I don’t think it’s a disadvantage on their part that I know them well. It’s not an edge for the Philippines either. I expect both our teams to compete fiercely at the Olympic qualifier and may the better team win.”
Nauna nang sinabi ni Baldwin na hindi niya tiyak kung maglalaro si New Zealand star Kirk Penney, naglaro para sa Miami Heat at Los Angeles Clippers.
Ang 35-anyos na si Penney ang bumandera sa Tall Blacks sa dalawang Olympics at apat na FIBA World Cups.
Siyam na players mula sa tropang tumapos sa 15th sa FIBA World Cup sa Spain noong 2014 ang magbabalik sa New Zealand.
Ito ay sina 6-6 Tom Abercrombie, 28; 6-6 B. J. Anthony, 27; 6-8 Isaac Fotu, 21; 6-1 Jarrod Kenny, 29; 6-11 Rob Lowe, 24; 6-6 Mika Vukona, 33; 6-4 Everard Bartlett, 29; 6-2 Corey Webster, 26 and 6-4 Tai Webster, 20. The others in the cast are 6-7 Finn Delany, 20; 6-0 Shea Ili, 22; 6-10 Michael Karena, 22; 6-5 Jordan Ngatai, 23 at 6-5 Ethan Rusbatch, 24.
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