Philippine Basketball Association have named Tab Baldwin as the national team’s head coach starting in January on a four-year deal.
Baldwin replaces the popular Chot Reyes, who left his position following Gilas Pilipinas’ failure to advance past the group stages of FIBA World Cup, their first major tournament outside Asia since 1978.
The 56-year-old was the Philippines’ team consultant in 2013 and before that was the head coach of Lebanon [2010-11] and Jordan [2011-12].
Baldwin’s best achievement in international basketball was guiding New Zealand to the semi-finals of the world championships in Japan in 2002. The American-born New Zealander was made an honouree officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in early 2003 for this accomplishment.
“I want to see us in Rio,” said Baldwin in a statement. “I want to see gold medals around our necks in the FIBA Asia Championship.”
