Tab sets up World Hoops Clinic

MANILA, Philippines -  Former Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin will set up what he calls the World Hoops Clinic to share the latest trends in coaching basketball with five other experts, including three exponents of the European game, at the Marikina Sports Complex on June 16-18. He’s inviting coaches from all levels to join the first-ever workshop that will offer a different perspective with a shift in focus “from an over-dependence on the American way to a more well-rounded and intellect-based European style.”  

Baldwin, 59, will head the impressive list of experts. He will take up the fundamental factors of player development and set-play design using basic offensive elements. Now the Ateneo senior men’s head coach, Baldwin is well-known for his attention to detail, particularly on the practice floor. Throughout his coaching career that has covered 10 countries in four continents, Baldwin has gained a reputation for his dedication to his craft and players and his passion to teach, mentor and develop.

Aside from the Philippines, Baldwin has coached the national teams of Malaysia, New Zealand, Lebanon and Jordan. Baldwin piloted New Zealand to the semifinals of the 2002 FIBA World Cup and was head coach in two other World Cups, once more with the Tall Blacks in 2006 and with Lebanon in 2010. He was Gilas’ coaching consultant at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

The other experts in the clinic are Serbia’s Nenad Vucinic, New Zealand’s Pero Cameron, Spain’s Natxo Lezcano, Alaska coach Alex Compton and Gilas assistant coach Jimmy Alapag.

Vucinic, 52, has coached in New Zealand, Italy, Turkey, China, Serbia and Estonia and is now coaching in Lebanon.  He became a dual citizen after migrating to New Zealand in 1989. Vucinic’ experience includes coaching in the Olympics and two FIBA World Cups. His topics in the clinic are demonstrating Europe’s mastery in the pick-and-roll and using combo defenses from man to zone and zone to man.

Cameron, 42, was the backbone of the Tall Blacks national team from 2000 to 2010. He played as an import in Malaysia, England, Turkey and Iran. As a player, Cameron saw action in two Olympics and three World Cups. As a coach, he has bagged two titles in the New Zealand league. At 6-6, Cameron displayed his lack of size was not a handicap in playing center on the world stage. His topics in the clinic are coaching undersized bigs and the art of positional rebounding. He was named to the Mythical First Five of the 2002 World Cup with Yao Ming, Manu Ginobili, Peja Stojakovic and Dirk Nowitzki. 

Lezcano, 44, is coach of the Cafes Candelas Breogan Lugo in Spain and was a Gilas consultant at the 2014 World Cup. He was formerly head coach of the Ivory Coast national team and a Division I club in Venezuela. His topics are the free offense and the ball-screen defense:  which method to use and when.

Compton, 43, will discuss the press defense as a system of success and modern coaching methods with old school toughness. He’s the NBTC training director and a four-time PBA finalist with Alaska. Alapag, 39, will take up defining and building the leadership role. He’s known for his inspirational leadership on and off the court, uncompromising work ethic and reputation of overachieving.

Baldwin will be assisted by coaches John Flores and Jay Salvador in the clinic. Flores, the Ateneo senior women’s coach, said there is no limit to the number of participants as the Marikina Sports Complex can hold even up to 100. The fee to enlist is P6,000. Sponsors will give away limited edition World Hoops Clinic shirts, tumblers and a coach’s kit composed of a pen, folder and note pad.  

“For the first time in Philippine basketball, coach Tab is putting together a group of top-rate international coaches outside of the NBA who will offer a European perspective in player development and team concepts making it a unique and fresh experience for our coaches,” said Flores. “Coaches from all levels are welcome to attend because the topics to be discussed will apply to beginners and pros alike. We’ve received an inquiry from a coach of a government institution asking if he’s qualified to attend and of course, we welcome his participation. Everyone is invited to learn from this select panel of coaches.”

For details, Flores may be contacted at +639175517275 or +639989977275 or Salvador at +639281716108.