ON the lookout for others to step up for injured playmaker Matt Nieto and gunner Dave Ildefonso, Gilas Pilipinas program director Tab Baldwin need not worry.
The likes of SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos, and Dwight Ramos can ably take charge, but it’s just different when Nieto is around.
“SJ (Belangel) and RJ (Abarrientos) are both grooming themselves. They’ve both accepted the role of being leaders. With Dwight Ramos, it’s still a wish for us. He still has a personality that isn’t vocally oriented, and it’s got to change,” Baldwin said.
“It’s a drum we’ve been beating, he’s (Ramos) changing slowly so it is what it is. He knows that’s his job. There are guys who are going to do the job, but they won’t do it the way Matt did it,” he added.
The all-amateur Philippine five is winding up its preparations at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna for the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers set from June 16 to 20 in a bubble in Clark when the two ace players suffered injuries.
Baldwin said everyone in the team must do their share to fill in the void.
“It’s going to have to be leadership by committee,” Baldwin, who coached Nieto in Ateneo in the UAAP where they won three titles together, said.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who could really step into that role in the same way that Matt did,” he added.
The Filipino dribblers are also set to do battle in the Olympic qualifying tournament from June 29 to July 4 in Belgrade, Serbia.
While Matt’s twin brother Mike can also lead the way for the team, Matt’s absence will be dearly felt, according to Baldwin.
