BCAP president condemns Baldwin’s comments on PH basketball

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Louie Gonzalez, president of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP), disagrees with coach Tab Baldwin’s comments in the latter’s recent appearance on the Coaches Unfiltered.

Baldwin slammed the Philippine basketball coaches after saying that he thinks the tacticians of our country are too left behind compared to those in Europe.

“So the biggest thing that annoys me, and I think the biggest surprise to me was the tactical immaturity of Philippine basketball coaches. And so what do I mean by that? I mean that they are significantly unaware of the tactical advancements and the systemic advancements of coaching systems coming out of Europe in particular which, you know, are built on the backs of player development. And so our player development here is mature, and our appreciation for tactical advancement and tactical systems is immature,” Baldwin said.

Gonzalez was quick with his reply, uttering that what Baldwin said was not only an attack on the Filipino coaches, but also an attack to every Filipino.

“Myself, and our former BCAP presidents, Coach Yeng Guiao, and Coach Al Chua will not tolerate this. It is the spirit of Nationalism. Hindi naman kami papayag na nasa Pilipinas ka tapos aapihin tayo. If malinis talaga puso mo at gusto mo makatulong, hindi ka magsasalita ng ganun. You will be responsible enough for the impact of your words and actions. You are a person in authority so dapat mas doble ingat,” Gonzalez replied.

The PBA reportedly is mulling actions regarding their move of penalizing coach Baldwin with a fine and suspension.

Gonzalez discussed that this is the first time that a foreign coach did something as offensive as what coach Baldwin did. Saying coach Tim Cone and coach Norman Black never did what Baldwin had.

“Si former Coach Ron Jacobs hindi naman nag comment nang ganiyan, hindi na nga nagdala ng ibang foreign coaches but instead shared his knowledge with his local Filipino assistant coaches, trained them and eventually became champion coaches in both local and international competitions,” Gonzalez added.