Coach Tab Baldwin has been with Gilas Pilipinas since our preparation for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship as a technical consultant. It started when Gilas Pilipinas went to New Zealand for a couple of tune-up games against some of the top local teams there and the NZ national team known as the 'Tall Blacks'. He was the head coach of the NBL team Hawkes Bay Hawks then which Gilas Pilipinas defeated twice in a row in an exhibition game. Just a couple of days after Gilas went back to the Philippines, coach Tab followed to serve as a technical consultant for the team.

The move was greatly welcomed by local hoop fans as coach Tab has an excellent coaching resume under his belt specifically when he took the 'Tall Blacks' to the semifinals of the 2002 FIBA World Cup. He also had stints with the Malaysian national team, Lebanese national team, and the Jordanian national team which he took to the finals of the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship losing by just 1 point against the host nation, China in the finals. Coach Tab also coached in the US NCAA and Europe.

His stint as a consultant for Gilas Pilipinas continued until the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain and the 2014 Incheon Asian Games in South Korea.

Last night, Quinito Henson reported on Instagram that coach Tab will be coming back to the Philippines to serve as a consultant for the Talk'nText Tropang Texters and at the same time 'cover the elite program down to the U16 level.'

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American coach Tab Baldwin, a naturalized New Zealander, took New Zealand to the top 4 of the FIBA World Cup in 2002, brought Lebanon to the 2010 FIBA Asia Cup throne and piloted Jordan to 2nd place at the 2011 FIBA Asia Championships, losing to China 70-69 in final, was Gilas coaching consultant at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships, FIBA World Cup in Spain and Asian Games in Incheon--he's back in New Zealand but arrives in Manila next week to become consultant with Talk 'N' Text in the PBA and SBP to cover the elite program down to the U16 level, Tab is an asset to Philippine basketball! #BasketballNeverStops #LabanPilipinasPuso #SmartGilas

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Could this be SBP's way of integrating him to Philippine basketball? 

Salamat, Jimmy 'Alamat' Alapag!

"My incredible journey with the Gilas Pilipinas National Team comes to an end today. It's been both an honor and privilege to have worn our national colors since 2002. This journey has been filled with its peaks and valleys, successes and failures, but through it all I have enjoyed every moment of it. I have had the opportunity to play alongside the best players and coaches in the country thru the years, who I have the utmost love and respect for. I stand proud with the progress Philippine basketball has made the last few years, gaining respect and admiration not just in Asia, but also around the world. We've shown the spirit, will, determination, and PUSO to compete against the best. The job now is to continue with the Gilas program, continue to work hard and improve, and continue conquering the mountains that stand ahead of us. I have enjoyed every minute of this experience. I thank Boss MVP, Boss Vargas and the rest of management, Coach Chot and the coaching staff, and my brothers on the team for the chance to be a part of something truly special. To our fans, maraming salamat sa lahat ng pagdadasal at suporta sa amin. You are the true inspiration behind Gilas Pilipinas. We fight and work everyday to make all of you proud of your team. I will miss wearing our national colors, but I'm excited at what lies ahead for the future of Philippine basketball. Til the end.... #LabanPilipinas #PUSO #TheJourney #FromSelectaToGilasPilipinas #IAmMyBrothersKeeper" - Jimmy Alapag

Thank you, Gilas!

Gilas Pilipinas ended their 2014 Incheon Asian Games campaign with a 16-point rout against Mongolia, 84-68. They may not have achieved the gold medal we all expected, but it has been a great year in all for Philippine basketball starting from our training camp in Miami, to our tuneup games in France and the FIBA World Cup in Spain.

Burnout can be attributed to our team's lowly performance in the Asian Games as our players have been playing continuously since last year. Then there was their less than a month preparation for the World Cup where they were forced to practice 3 times a day just to make sure they are ready when the tournament starts. It paid off as Gilas played high level of basketball against some of the best teams in the world like Croatia, Greece, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and our first win in the World Cup in 40 years against Senegal. 

Thank you Gilas, till next year!