Baldwin's biggest Gilas dilemma

MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin's biggest dilemma three weeks before the FIBA Asia Men's Championships is not whether Los Angeles Lakers' Fil-Am guard Jordan Clarkson could play or not for the national team. 

But it's whether to stick with the dribble drive or his new system called "swing offense". 

Before flying out to Taipei on Friday to compete in the annual William Jones Cup, Baldwin is still having second thoughts.  Asked how the Gilas players are fitting in to his system, Baldwin took a brief pause before answering. 

"It's really a good question. I really have reservations.  We'll keep working on it," Baldwin told Philstar.com. 

In Estonia, Baldwin tried to run their new plays but the lack of familiarity prevented them from making it work. 

Sports5.ph's Carlo Pamintuan reported that during Gilas' game against the Netherlands, the national team mostly ran the dribble-drive offense in the first half and they only trailed by one against their taller opponents. But in the third quarter, where they were outscored 29-4, Gilas struggled executing the new plays. 

The growing pains showed as the team was only two weeks older at that time. Gilas, though, got better the more they ran their new plays as they even led and flirted with a victory in their final game against Iceland only to lose steam in the final minutes. 

"I believe they have the ability to prove me right that the system can work well with them. But I have some reservations, at this point," Baldwin stressed on Wednesday.

Asked whether he would use the dribble-drive offense more than the swing, he gave a very short reply: "Probably."

"Well, there's a big hole in one of those low posts.  The guy that should be there isn't there.  We can't compensate for that.  The offense can't compensate on that," added Baldwin obviously referring to reigning PBA back-to-back MVP June Mar Fajardo. 

The San Miguel Bermen center is still in Cebu recovering from plantar fasciitis injury on his both feet. 

Like the dribble drive, the new offense is still free-flowing but it is more structured and is predicated on putting the ball inside and making plays out of that.  It's the reason why Baldwin was referring to Fajardo as the centerpiece of this Gilas team in his interviews leading to the formation of the national pool.  Unfortunately, the two-time MVP withdrew his name from the pool shortly after leading the Beermen to the PBA Governors' Cup title. 

In Jones Cup, Baldwin is looking for the team to continue to grow and will take winning as a bonus. 

“I really don't have expectations. I just want us to play well. Everything that leads up to FIBA Asia is about getting better, not about trying to win a game or get a medal. If it happens, and obviously we try to win every game we play, it’s a bonus for me,” Baldwin said. "What we’ve got to do is become a team that can win FIBA Asia."

Gilas will open its Jones Cup campaign against the home team on Sunday at 7 p.m.