After months of negotiations, Tab Baldwin will remain at Ateneo de Manila University.
The decorated head coach has signed a three-year extension with the Blue Eagles, the school announced on Saturday — just hours before their season-opening game against the FEU Tamaraws for UAAP Season 88.
The signing took place in the presence of Ateneo president Fr. Bobby Yap, SJ, following the team’s send-off mass at the Jesuit Residence Chapel.
“Thank you for building such a strong program over the past years,” Fr. Yap said. “We are thrilled that you are renewing with us.”
Baldwin has been with the Blue Eagles since UAAP Season 79. He joined in 2016, replacing Bo Perasol after his stint with Gilas Pilipinas.
In his first year, he guided Ateneo to an unexpected silver finish, falling to a Ben Mbala-led La Salle in the finals.
A season later, Baldwin led the Blue Eagles to the UAAP Season 80 championship, defeating Mbala and the Green Archers.
This victory marked the start of a three-peat campaign for Ateneo, culminating in an unprecedented 16-0 sweep of UAAP Season 82.
During his tenure, Baldwin also helped develop players such as Thirdy Ravena, the Nieto twins, Isaac Go, William Navarro, and many others into professional athletes.
In Season 84, Ateneo finished second before bouncing back in the second season of 2022 to claim Baldwin’s fourth title in five seasons.
The team then entered a rebuilding phase, finishing fourth in Season 86 and enduring a school-worst 4-10 last-place finish last year.
Now, Baldwin is ready to rebuild Ateneo from the ground up.
“With you guys, I will be able to be a part of rebuilding this program — bringing glory and success back to the Hill,” Baldwin said.
This season, the Blue Eagles will be led by the ‘one-and-done’ trio of Kymani Ladi, Dom Escobar, and Jaden Lazo.
