SA hangaring maging maayos ang international basketball program ng bansa, ang Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP)-PBA search and selection committee sa pangunguna ni SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan ay pinalawak kahapon ang gagampanan ni Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin na hahawakan din ang dalawa pang ibang national teams na isasabak sa dalawang regional tournament ngayong taon.
Si Baldwin, na pinalitan si Chot Reyes nitong Disyembre, ay itinalaga din bilang head coach ng national team na maglalaro sa Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) tournament sa Abril at Southeast Asian Games sa Hunyo. Ang dalawang event ay parehong gaganapin sa Singapore.
“We expect Coach Tab to take off running as men’s national team head coac h and that is why it is best he gets his feet wet early,” sabi ni SBP executive director Sonny Barrios. “Aside from successfully defending our crowns at SEABA and SEAG, he is tasked at leading our men’s team to qualifying for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics by winning the FIBA Asia Qualifying in Hunan.”
Ang SEABA competition ay isasagawa sa Abril 27 hanggang Mayo 4 at ito ay ang qualifying tournament para sa FIBA Asia Championship na gaganapin sa Setyembre 23 hanggang Oktubre 3 sa Hunan, China.