Acclaimed veteran coach Anthony James "Tab" Baldwin returns to the international basketball scene by consulting for the Philippine men's national team at the FIBA World Cup.

With all the years of experience, Baldwin is the consultant for head coach Vincent "Chot" Reyes. This is the first year that Philippines has played basketball in the international level since 1978. Their return comes at the biggest stage of basketball.

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Reyes admits that their rookie status has made them seek for Baldwin's assistance, as the latter has been to four FIBA World Championships, and even more because he coached teams that the Philippines has not played.

"We got him in the last FIBA Asia because he coached Lebanon and Jordan so he's our Middle East guy," said Reyes. "He gives us his insight into how to play those teams. That's why he continues to be here with us."

Baldwin admits that Reyes' managerial skills and basketball knowledge are top-notch, and that he contributes to wherever he can.

He goes on to talk about how the playing style of the Philippines is much different from the New Zealand teams he used to coach, emphasizing speed in the smaller Asian squad and how to impose the style on other teams.

More than that, Baldwin emphasized the need to cultivate and develop true belief among players the Philippine players.

Baldwin has been coaching since 1988. He started in New Zealand, coaching for the Otago Nuggets. He would eventually find his home with the Auckland Stars, and for eight years, win five National Basketball League (NBL) championships.

Afterwards, he began coaching the New Zealand National Team and won the 2001 FIBA Oceania Championships. Qualifying for the FIBA World Cup, the team reached the semifinals, the highest stage reached by an Oceania team in the history of the championship.

TagsTab Baldwin, Chot Reyes, Team Philippines, FIBA World Cup of Basketball