(CNN Philippines) — National team coach Tab Baldwin submitted to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) the list of 26 players that will comprise the new Gilas Pilipinas pool on Wednesday (April 15).
Baldwin, however, refused to name the players from which he will form the national squad which hopes to stomp class anew in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships in September.
This was first reported by Spin.ph.
The former New Zealand mentor, who steered the team to a fourth-place finish in the 2002 World Cup, is leaving everything to the league but is hoping he’ll get the green light from all the team owners when they meet.
“I don’t have any expectations. I’m going to meet the team owners and talk about the whole process,” he said in the aftermath of Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters’ 99-92 victory over Rain or Sine Elasto Painters in the Commissioner’s Cup finals.
Related: Talk ‘N Text takes 1-0 series lead over Rain or Shine
Baldwin is the consultant of the Talk ‘N Text coaching staff.
But is he confident he’ll get their nods?
“From what the PBA tells me, I can be confident that I can get their support,” he said.
As for his coaching staff, he said he already formed it but declined give out their names.
Reigning league Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo, Asia’s best point guard and Talk ’N Text star Jayson Castro, and 7-foot behemoth Greg Slaughter are considered to be shoo-ins in the roster.
