Coach Racela on Baldwin: “Welcome to our world.”
by Justin P
Wala umanong nagiging problema si Far Eastern University (FEU) head coach na si Nash Racela sa pagiging head mentor ng Ateneo na si Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin, ONZM at isang American-New Zealand basketball coach. Madaling nakapag-adjust ito sa mga naging pagbabago kaya’t maayos ang pamamalakad nito sa grupo.
Nagkaroon ng isyu sa Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) dahil sa pagkaka-hire kay Baldwin bilang mentor ng Ateneo. Naikumpara niya ito sa sitwasyon kung saan kumuha rin ang Ateneo para sa kanilang women’s volleyball coach ng dayuhang coaches gaya nina Tai Bundit at ang mentor ng FEU football na si Kim Chul Su.
“You have a Thai coach in volleyball and a Korean coach in football. I don’t think there should be a difference in basketball,” wika ni Racela noong Huwebes.
Alam ni Racela ang inaasahan ng mga tao kay Baldwin lalo na ngayon na ang Ateneo ay tatlong taon na sunod-sunod na nagkakamali sa kanilang ginagawa.
“I told him the other day that Ateneo expects you to win a championship on your first year. It’s a challenge for him,” said Racela, na kasama ng American-Kiwi team at Talk N’ Text sa PBA.
“He’s a disciplinarian. His experience in coaching would be big. That’s something that I think the Ateneans are banking on,” sabi nito habang wine-welcome si Baldwin sa wild world of collegiate basktetball. Isa lang aniya ang masasabi niya bilang mensahe: “Welcome to our world.”
