As Tab Baldwin enters his 10th year in Philippine basketball, his influence on the sport here in the country remains undeniable.
Since arriving at Ateneo de Manila University in 2016, the former Gilas Pilipinas head coach has not only led the Blue Eagles to multiple UAAP titles but has also played a pivotal role in raising the level of competition across the entire basketball scene in the country.
His impact goes beyond just wins and titles—he has reshaped the approach to coaching, player development, and the very culture of Philippine basketball.
During his nine years with the Blue Eagles, Baldwin compiled an impressive 99-37 record, securing four UAAP men’s basketball championships.
Beyond Ateneo, Baldwin’s influence extended even to his time coaching the national team.
During his stint with Gilas Pilipinas back in 2021, he was instrumental in the development of several young stars from rival schools, including Far Eastern University’s RJ Abarrientos, University of the Philippines’s Carl Tamayo and the Gomez de Liano brothers, and De La Salle University’s Justine Baltazar.
His success has made him a key figure in the growth of the league and the local basketball scene, with his coaching philosophy earning admiration—and rivalry—from his fellow coaches.
His first true rival in the UAAP was Aldin Ayo, former La Salle and University of Santo Tomas head coach.
Ayo, who faced Baldwin in three UAAP finals, with Ateneo winning two, shared his thoughts on Baldwin’s impact once saying, “He made the UAAP better. He raised the level of competition. He made better players. Not only his players but also other players. He made other coaches better.
“On my part, I love the challenge and ako, naggo-grow din ako because of him. Siguro sila din, ganun din. That’s the good thing about competition. You handle it well, take it well, everybody benefits from it.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Former University of the East head coach Jack Santiago, who went 1-5 against Ateneo during his four-year stay in Recto, echoed this sentiment.
“I think Coach Tab is an excellent coach,” said Santiago, a disciple of decorated head coach Franz Pumaren.
“Personally, one of the best lessons I’ve learned from him is how well he prepares for every opponent, regardless of the team he’s handling. This makes him a significant figure in Philippine basketball because he motivates every other team to stay fired up and competitive in order to match up with him.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
National University head coach Jeff Napa, who has a 4-4 record against Baldwin, also emphasized Baldwin’s role in raising the bar for coaching in the league.
“Wala naman. Kailangan ko lang i-level up yung game to my coaching para at least kahit papaaano, makasabay ko siya,” Napa shared.
“Hindi lang naman siya yung impact sa UAAP. Sa Ateneo, oo siguro malaki naging impact, pero sa amin, hindi naman. Kumbaga sa akin personally, masarap kalaban yung ganon caliber na coach. Matututo ka at makaka-gain ka ng mga knowledge.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
FEU head coach Sean Chambers, who defeated Baldwin in their first encounter with the Tamaraws, reflected on the privilege of coaching against the four-time New Zealand-National Basketball League Coach of the Year.
“I’m just honored to be on the same court with him. I’ve been watching Coach Tab for so many years. He’s such an amazing coach in what he does. He’s so detailed. I’ve really stolen a lot of the things he’s done against other teams like UE and La Salle and things like that. So, I’ve learned so much from him in this short time I’ve been here.”
Chambers, also an assistant coach with Gilas, added, “This is a very detailed league. It’s very structured now and people pay attention to details. I think Coach Tab has a lot to do with it because if you’re not, he’s going to just kill you.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
La Salle head coach Topex Robinson, who Baldwin tapped as an assistant during their time with Gilas during the early parts of the 2020s, expressed deep respect for his impact.
“I cannot take the fact away that he’s one of the persons that I look up to. I consider him as my worthy rival because his strength is my weakness. Every opportunity I play against Tab is gonna be an opportunity for learning. He always keeps me on my toes, gives me those sleepless nights, and then I just try to learn from him,” said Robinson, who owns a 3-1 record against Baldwin.
“The way he approached the game, the way he challenges his players, the way he keeps them competitive given the fact that the lineup is really depleted coming into this season but still, he still pulled up some wins and I’m sure that he’s gonna have a lot of opportunity to make it to the Final Four. That’s just the way he is, he’s been a competitor all his life and that’s why I respect him so much.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Adamson University head coach Nash Racela, a longtime golf buddy of Baldwin, kept his comments low-key but nonetheless acknowledged his friend’s contribution to the game.
“He helped upgrade the quality of basketball in the country. For sure, his experience in our league also contributed to improving his basketball skills,” said Racela.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde, who owns a 9-6 record against Baldwin and a split in their two Finals battles, spoke of the competitive environment Baldwin has created within the league.
“Every time, every season, from the start ng season hanggang sa dulo, makikita mo ‘yung improvement ng team niya ang laki,” Monteverde said.
“Ang laki nung competition na nabibigay niya sa’min. Malaki rin ‘yung ini-improve namin because of him.”
Monteverde also highlighted the influence Baldwin’s approach to coaching has had on him personally.
“Yung the way he thinks, kung paano niya i-coach ‘yung team niya, the way he motivates his players, the way kung paano niya i-mold ‘yung team niya to play as a unit,” Monteverde added.
When asked about Baldwin’s overall impact on Philippine basketball, Monteverde was clear in his assessment: “Well, malaking bagay siya for Philippine basketball. But at the same time, kapag titignan mo kasi si UAAP right now, ang dami ring coaches na have their own philosophy, have their own style, na pagtitingnan mo nang mabuti, matututo ka talaga eh. Sa bawat isa sa’min, kapag nagco-compete kami, there’s something to learn lagi.”
With UAAP Season 88 marking the final year of Baldwin’s contract with Ateneo, whether he gets renewed or not, his legacy as a key figure in Philippine basketball will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.
