Gilas Pilipinas had 'elite' practice sessions before ECQ halted training camp, says Tab Baldwin

Gilas Pilipinas had been hitting its stride in practice just before the training camp got suspended due to the enhanced community quarantine.

In a Zoom interview with GMA News Online on Wednesday, Gilas program director Tab Baldwin gave a recap on what went on inside the bubble in Calamba, Laguna.

"It gave all of us a lot of motivation, a lot of I guess validation, for the work we had done," Baldwin said in an interview with GMA News Online on Wednesday.

He admitted, however, that the camp was not smooth-sailing at the beginning.

"I have to be honest, the first week was tough going for everybody. A lot of younger players, players who have very little experience," he said. "I mean, even the Ateneo players, very little experience training that level of intensity, that level of talent, that many times."

"It took a toll on the players, their psyche. They were struggling a bit. The coaches were struggling a bit trying to get them to lift themselves up to the standard that we believe is important," he added.

Despite the shaky start, the team eventually found its groove after a serious talk among its members.

"We had a couple of tremendous practices," Baldwin said. "We went to an entirely another level, and probably the last four or five practices were really elite."

The Gilas training camp, which started mid-March, was part of the preparations for the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Among the players who joined the bubble include recent Gilas draftees Jordan Heading, Tzaddy Rangel, Jaydee Tungcab, and Will Navarro.

Holdovers from the previous camp such as Justine Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Dwight Ramos, Chris Koon, and Ange Kouame, also participated, along with several Ateneo young guns such as Gian Mamuyac and LeBron Lopez.

Gilas 2019 draftees Isaac Go, Matt and Mike Nieto, and Rey Suerte also came in before the training was cut short.

 —MGP, GMA News