Baldwin named new Gilas coach, agrees to 4-year deal

MANILA, Philippines – Tab Baldwin, a decorated veteran international coach whose feats included steering New Zealand to a semifinal finish in the FIBA World Championship in 2002, has been chosen as the new coach of the Philippine national team.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice chairman Ricky Vargas said they’ve had an agreement with Baldwin whom they signed to a four-year contract Monday night.

“We just have some slight things to clarify. But it would be okay, and Tab will be presented in a press conference (this afternoon),” Vargas told The STAR.

“SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan, executive director Sonny Barrios and PBA commissioner Chito Salud will be there,” Vargas also said of the press conference at the Mall of Asia Arena before Game Three of the PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal series between Talk n Text and San Miguel Beer.

Baldwin, who has also served as national coach of Malaysia, Lebanon and Jordan, was chosen over Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico.

The Jacksonville, Florida native, 56, will be tasked to handle Gilas Pilipinas from 2014-2018, a crucial period where the Nationals vie to qualify for the 2015 Olympics and the 2019 World Cup.

Baldwin is well familiar with Asian basketball.

In 2011, Baldwin was at the saddle as Jordan stunned two-time champion Iran in their semifinal faceoff in the FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China.

In the elims, Jordan lost to Gilas Pilipinas, but Baldwin and his troops got back at coach Rajko Toroman and Team Phl in their quarterfinals rematch. Jordan narrowly lost to host China in the gold-medal game.

In leading New Zealand to the semis in the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis, Baldwin was made an honorary officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He was also named Coach of the Year at the Halberg Awards (New Zealand’s premier sports awards) in 2001 and 2002.

He was still connected with the New Zealand NBL before being invited by coach Chot Reyes to join the Gilas staff in its campaign in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship then the 2014 World Cup.