The entire Basketball New Zealand federation is well aware of the news surrounding Tab Baldwin’s situation following the Aurora tragedy.
Baldwin served as head coach of the Tall Blacks during one of the most successful eras in New Zealand basketball, leading the Kiwis to the 2001 Oceania Championship and a berth in the 2002 World Cup.
Part of that historic 2002 New Zealand squad that finished fourth in the world was current Tall Blacks head coach Judd Flavell.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody, the victims and everybody else,” Flavell said.
Flavell had just concluded a successful fourth window in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, where his Tall Blacks went undefeated in their games in the Philippines.
Baldwin and Flavell have crossed paths multiple times, first as members of the early-2000s New Zealand squads that made their mark on the international scene and later through the succession of head coaches of the Tall Blacks.
Much like he was in the Philippines before the tragedy, Baldwin was revered as a legend in New Zealand. He was named an Honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2003 and was inducted into the Basketball New Zealand Hall of Fame in May 2023.
However, the former head coach of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team is now facing charges stemming from alleged negligence in handling the Blue Eagles’ training camp in Dipaculao, Aurora, which claimed the lives of two of his student-athletes.
Sophomore Divine Adili and incoming freshman Rene Baterbonia died in a tragic drowning incident on June 8 during the training camp. Baldwin subsequently resigned from his position and continues to face penalties over the incident.
In addition to being perpetually banned from the UAAP, the former Ateneo head coach was also ordered to pay millions of pesos in fines over violations involving the employment of foreign nationals.
This stands in stark contrast to how Flavell remembers Baldwin. As a player, Flavell served as a backup combo guard who played spot minutes off the bench during New Zealand’s history-making run in 2002.
“Of course, everyone’s thinking about everybody. It’s not a situation that anybody wants to be involved in, from either party,” he shared.
News of Tab Baldwin’s fall from grace following the Aurora tragedy was not limited to national headlines in the Philippines. It also spread throughout his second home country, New Zealand.
The shock of hearing the news about his predecessor and former mentor left Flavell with few words to offer. The 52-year-old Kiwi tactician, like many others, remains unclear about the full details of what transpired.
“Look, I don’t know too much about it. I mean, I’ve heard, obviously, the headlines and stuff. Without knowing the full details, it’s hard to make a comment, and I don’t really wanna put myself in that position,” he said.
“I don’t know the full story, but I just know that it’s a tough situation for everybody.”
