FIL-Australian guard Jordan Heading promptly made an impact in his Gilas Pilipinas debut, surprising a lot of people. But not coach Tab Baldwin.
“It’s not a surprise. I mean, he can really shoot the ball. He’s a pretty clever guy, he understands our systems pretty well,” Baldwin said last Saturday on Radyo5 92.3 News FM’s Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
“He’s a tough cookie, you know. He’s not afraid to go into the paint against bigger players and finish at the rim,” he added.
The 6-foot-2 Heading suited up for the all-amateur Philippine five in the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Clark where the team completed an emphatic 3-0 sweep and 6-0 record overall.
Heading also saw action for Gilas in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.
Heading, 25, was the top pick in the special Gilas draft last March by Terrafirma. A product of California Baptist University, Heading played for the Philippine youth team in 2011 in the FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
The American-New Zealander tactician of reigning three-time UAAP champion Ateneo said Heading passed his initial test with flying colors.
“I expect all the players to play well, and Jordan played very well. I mean, he makes mistakes as they all do, and some of those we don’t see, I guess, the average fan doesn’t see,” Baldwin said.
