According to veteran coach Tab Baldwin, the best point guard in Asia will be playing for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games.
In a recent episode of the Staying Major Podcast hosted by PBA legend Eric Menk, the Ateneo Blue Eagles coach and former Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin dished on a number of topics, including his team's stint at the Jones Cup in Taiwan, as well as the challenges of coaching an amateur team compared to professionals. He also talked about the comparison between the Philippine basketball style of play compared to the international game.
When asked about the men's basketball lineup that the SBP would be sending to the Asian Games, Baldwin was positive, considering that a certain elite point guard would be headlining the roster: Stanley Pringle.
"Not to put any additional pressure on Stanley, but he's the best point guard in Asia," Baldwin said. "And I'm telling you, it isn't even close."
Baldwin even took it one step further with regard to the Northpoint Batang Pier guard: "In my opinion, he's also the best choice for a naturalized player in the Philippines."
Traditionally, Gilas Pilipinas has used the naturalized player slot for a big man, whether it's Marcus Douthit, Andray Blatche or Christian Standhardinger. But Baldwin believes that with the caliber of local big men in the Philippines, Pringle would be a great candidate despite being a guard.
Pringle will be representing the Philippines for the second time this year, after his first stint as a member of the 3X3 team in June. According to Baldwin, Pringle possesses the skillset that will make him devastating in the competition. "Unfortunately in the Asian Games you're not going to have June Mar and Greg, but hopefully you'll have them later on," Baldwin says. "But having a great ball screen guard with those guys is really critical."
"He's a game-changer, and he's the only one who's a game-changer because the ball is in his lands a lot," says Baldwin. "Putting the ball in Stanley's hands, he's a great ball screen guard.
It has been a stellar season thus far for Pringle. He has finished as a top candidate for Best Player of the Conference in the Philippine and Commissioner's Cup conferences in the PBA, leading his squad to the Playoffs despite the absence of Terrence Romeo. He also showcased his incredible scoring ability, dropping 50 points in a game versus Columbian Dyip, the first local player to do it in 14 years.
Baldwin is excited to see Pringle elevate his game even further because of the new responsibility he has. "Stanley is a game-changer, offensively and defensively," reiterated Baldwin. "I just think he's a superior player. He has great experience in the game. What a lot of people don't know about Stanley because he's a humble quiet guy, he has a lot of pride in his performance. Now you put a Philippine uniform on top of that pride, you got something special in my opinion."
Baldwin envisions a scenario where Pringle teams up with Christian Standhardinger to great effect, as the rookie of the San Miguel Beermen was also inserted in the lineup. Because of the citizenship of these two players, only one of them can be considered as the naturalized player for Gilas Pilipinas. But because of the difference in the rules for the Asian Games, the two will be able to play together.
"So with Christian there- and Christian's such a hard worker, you can't have Christian and Stanley in the FIBA team," noted Baldwin. "But you have them now. And Christian will do a great job with Stanley."
Aside from Pringle, Baldwin also made mention of Magnolia Hotshots guard Paul Lee as a crucial piece to the team. "Paul Lee happens to be a great ball screen guard," Baldwin shares. "That backcourt tandem will scare the hell out of the Asian teams. I'm serious, that's a great backcourt tandem."
Always outspoken when it comes to the sport that he has spent several decades teaching, Baldwin also provided some insight as to the philosophy of what he called the Philippine style of basketball. The mentor said that while the talent in the country is undeniable, there are many facets of the Pinoy style of basketball that could perhaps be relearned.
"If I could just encapsulate what the Filipino style of basketball is from a negative standpoint as opposed to what it should be, it's very simply thi: in Philippine basketball, you put the ball in a player's hands and he sees what he can create for himself," Baldwin said. "When that runs into a wall, then he gives it to someone who does the same thing."
Baldwin, who led Gilas Pilipinas to a silver medal in the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup, continued to communicate his observation of the game. "The problem is I think there's a blinder on the Filipino basketball landscape," he said pointedly. "This country is so good in basketball for so long that it becomes insular. It doesn't look outside enough. And when it does look outside, it looks only at the US. And that's a big mistake because we can't be the US. It's simply impossible."
Baldwin continued by challenging the norms of how we understand basketball to be, especially as the nation continues to push to become a superpower in the sport. "So our cultural development here as a basketball nation evolved around really the street ball, which has dominated so much of the play in this country. And it is entertaining, it is fun, and it will work - inside the borders of this country."
"But if you want to be successful outside, you've got to rise to the level of your opponents," continued Coach Tab. "And when your style of basketball can be exploited by disciplined intelligent teams, and they will force you into innumerable mistakes, you have to look at yourself."
The final part of Baldwin's breakdown is best reserved for the team heading towards the Asian Games, and the rest of the men and women who will be competing for Philippine pride: "Great basketball is played by players who whatever they do on the floor, they do it to see what they can do for their teammates."