MVP eyes Gilas foreign coaches for PBA, varsity

MADRID – Tab Baldwin and Natxo Lezkano, the two foreign coaches that helped out Gilas Pilipinas in its FIBA World Cup stint, will bring their coaching talent to the Philippines soon.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan said Baldwin would be tapped to work with Jong Uichico on the Talk n Text bench in the PBA while Lezkano is to handle a college team.

Pangilinan didn’t mention the college team Lezkano will help out, but it could only be the Ateneo Blue Eagles or the San Beda Red Lions, the two varsity squads which the telecommunication mogul supports.

Lezkano, head coach of the Ivory Coast national team that competes in the FIBA Afro Championship, will be the first to come over.

Pangilinan said Baldwin, with a semifinal finish in the world joust in his resume, finishes his commitment in New Zealand before jumping over to the PBA.

The Gilas head coach said Baldwin and Lezkano were of big help in the Nationals’ worthy showing in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Baldwin, a Jacksonville, Florida native who has handled the national teams of New Zealand, Malaysia, Jordan and Lebanon, had also helped Gilas Pilipinas in its second-place finish in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

For the world championship, Baldwin worked with the team as early as late July as the Filipinos underwent a boot camp in Miami.

He was away from the bench in Gilas’ first three games in the Spanish joust with Uichico the one sitting next to Reyes. In the Gilas-Puerto Rico match, Baldwin was finally asked to join the bench, occupying the seat of team manager Aboy Castro.

Lezkano took his turn to sit on the bench in the Gilas-Senegal game.

“That’s what we specifically asked from Lezkano – to help us against Senegal. He’s the national coach of Ivory Coast and he knows Senegal very well,” said Reyes.

Their coaching talent will soon be brought to the Philippine basketball circle.