Gilas Has To Believe They Can Win In Group A Of FIBA World Cup Says Ateneo Coach Tab Baldwin
Gilas Pilipinas' preparations for the 2023 FIBA World Cup in August is already in full swing. After playing at pocket tournaments in Europe, the national team will play at another one in China.
The team departed for Heyuan, China, on Tuesday, August 1, without Scottie Thompson, big man Kai Sotto, and naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame. Per the report from Spin.ph, Fil-Am guard Jordan Clarkson also won't be joining the team in China as he will be arriving in Manila next week.
Since playing at the recent 2023 NBA Summer League, Kai Sotto went back to Manila in the hopes of joining Gilas practices but his lingering back injury was the only thing that's keeping him in the sidelines at the moment.
Former Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin says he hasn't spoken with Sotto for two years. Yet he believes the 7'3" center has developed a lot since playing in the NBL in Australia, Japan B.League and the NBA Summer League. He's also looking forward to seeing Sotto play for Gilas at the FIBA World Cup in August.
"I haven't [had] a word with Kai [Sotto] in two years," Baldwin said before Ateneo's quarterfinals game at the AsiaBasket tournament in Las Pinas City last Friday. "So, you know, he's obviously developed a lot and I'm just as anxious as everybody else to see how well he's gonna play for Gilas."
The Ateneo Blue Eagles mentor spoke highly of Chot Reyes and says fans should support the Gilas coach and the national team at the biggest basketball tournament in the world.
"Coach Chot is a very confident coach, he's a very experienced coach, and we all have to believe in him," he expressed. "We have to get behind him and hope the team will do the best that they possibly can."
Gilas Pilipinas will be going up against Dominican Republic, Angola, and Italy in Group A of the FIBA World Cup. It will be indeed a challenge for the national team to get past the group stage in the tournament. Despite it all, Baldwin says Gilas has to prepare for each game, believe in themselves and play their best basketball in the World Cup.
"It's an extremely tough pool. You've got one top European team, you've got one top American team, and you've got a very, very strong African team," the Ateneo mentor said. "So, that's a good pool. That's what you'll expect in a world championship and, you know, they have to prepare for every game and believe they have a chance to win. Just like going out on the court playing their best basketball."