FORMER Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin is convinced the nationals can hack it in the 19th FIBA World Cup despite absorbing a numbing 81-87 loss to world No. 23 Dominican Republic last Friday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue.
“It looked to me that Gilas believed that it could win the game. When you do that, you have a chance,” Baldwin said last Saturday on the Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala. “Now, your margin of error is small because you are going up against highly talented, more experienced teams and players.
“But it all starts with the attitude. If the attitude is, we take this game one possession at a time,” he added.
The loss– in front of a new record crowd of 38,115– proved to be a dampener to the Philippines’ bid in the world cage spectacle.
Gilas clashed with Angola at press time last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, raring to atone for its opening-day setback and keep its hopes alive of advancing to the round of 16.
The Philippine five winds up its group phase stint tomorrow when it faces world No. 10 Italy, bannered by NBA forward Simone Fontecchio of the Utah Jazz, a teammate of Gilas naturalized star Jordan Clarkson.
Baldwin, 65, guided New Zealand to the semifinals of the 2002 edition of the World Cup, then known as the World Championship.
The team needs to finish at least in the top two at the end of the group stage to advance to the next round and fan its hopes of becoming the best placed Asian squad to directly qualify for the Paris Olympics next year.
“They have to believe that they have a chance,” Baldwin said.
“Expectations are very high after the Dominican (game), it’s gonna get tougher after this.”
