Makukuntento na lang si Baldwin

MANILA, Philippines – Hindi man niya nakuha ang mga hinihiling na players ay sapat na ang ipinapakita ng training pool members para makuntento si Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin.

Ayon kay Baldwin, hindi matatawaran ang masigasig na ginagawang pag-eensayo ng koponan.

“I think it would be an injustice to the guys who are giving their 100 percent at practice to be cynical,” sabi ni Baldwin.  “The guys are out there doing their best. Would we have a better team if the guys in our wish list were around?  We’ll never know.  All I know is the guys we’ve got are committed to the cause.”

Dahil sa kanyang mga nakita sa kanilang training camp ay idineklara ni Baldwin na handa na sa giyera ang Gilas Pilipinas.

“I’m really impressed by their sense of selflessness. I’m ready to go to war with these guys. This is a special group of players. They’ve all got a great attitude, they’re coachable.  I only hope and pray that we get healthier and that we’re able to make the most of the time we’ve got to get better as a team.  I know that with time, we can go far with this team,” wika ni Baldwin.

Tumanggi si June Mar Fajardo na maglaro dahil sa plantar fasciitis sa kanyang kaliwang paa at posibeng sumailalim sa surgery, habang nabalian ng daliri sa kanyang kamay si Japeth Aguilar at idinadahilan naman ni L. A. Tenorio na nakakaramdam na siya ng labis na kapaguran.

Sa isang ensayo ay nagkaroon si Kelly Williams ng MCL tear, samantalang hindi naman available sina Marc Pingris, Marcio Lassiter at Paul Lee.

Nagpapagaling si Ranidel de Ocampo sa kanyang hamstring injury at naospital si Terrence Romeo dahil sa viral infection.

Dalawang araw na hindi nakapag-ensayo si Andray Blatche bunga ng prostate problem.

Kamakailan ay ibinasura ng Gilas Pilipinas ang planong pagsasanay sa Turkey bunga ng problema  sa visa ng ilang mi-yembro ng team.

Sinabi ni Baldwin na maha-laga ang pagkakaroon ng che-mistry ng koponan.

“We can put five guys on the floor, averaging 36 years old, and they’ll be competitive which is amazing,” sabi ni Baldwin.  “That’s Jimmy Alapag (37), Dondon Hontiveros (38), Asi Taulava (42), Ranidel (33) and Sonny Thoss (33).  The new guys are doing well, too.  Calvin (Abueva), Terrence and Troy (Rosario) are contributing. I couldn’t be happier with all of them.”