GILAS Pilipinas has a new coach. It’s not Tab Baldwin despite the clamor from fans, but someone close to him.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has tapped former New Zealand tactician Nenad Vucinic to call the shots for the nationals in the third window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Vucinic was Baldwin’s assistant with the Tall Blacks team in the early 2000s and served as a deputy to Chot Reyes on the Gilas five that saw action in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.
He was also recently named as consultant at the Meralco brain trust of Norman Black in the PBA.
The Filipino cagers take on New Zealand in Auckland on June 30 and India on July 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Gilas is already qualified for the second round with an even 1-1 record in Group A.
Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Ange Kouame, SJ Belangel, Dave Ildefonso, Geo Chiu, Carl Tamayo, Justine Baltazar, RJ Abarrientos, William Navarro, and LeBron Lopez banner the 15-man national team training pool.
Reigning NCAA MVP Rhenz Abando of Letran leads the newcomers to the pool which also has James Spencer of University of the Philippines, Sherwin Concepcion of University of Santo Tomas, and Kevin Quiambao of La Salle.
The collegiate-laden pool hit the ground running last Wednesday.
The national team is reeling from an ill-fated campaign in the SEA Games where it settled for silver and failed to win the medal that matters most to Filipinos.
Gilas’ stunning loss to the Indons in the sport most cherished at home was the third time the Philippines failed in its quest for the cage gold, the first in 1979 and again in 1989, both in Malaysia.
