UAAP Rumor: Ateneo head coach will be FIRED this year?

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With Tab Baldwin's Ateneo Tenure Nearing Its End, PBA Teams Should Come Calling

After nearly a decade of excellence, it appears that the sun is setting on the Tab Baldwin era at Ateneo de Manila University.

Despite a legacy that includes four UAAP championships, a 98-33 record, and the transformation of the Blue Eagles into a perennial powerhouse and recruitment destination, Baldwin may be coaching his final UAAP season. Sources reveal that the school has not initiated talks to extend his contract, which is set to expire in January 2026.

Instead, according to a major booster familiar with internal discussions, Baldwin received a clear ultimatum: Win another championship or it’s over.

That pressure hangs heavily over the Blue Eagles' campaign heading into UAAP Season 88, where expectations are modest despite the arrival of reinforcements like Jaden Lazo, Dominic Escobar, Kymani Ladi, Divine Adili, and prized recruits Jared Bahay and Kristian Porter. While there is talent, the Blue Eagles are far from title favorites. In this light, the ultimatum essentially becomes a delayed termination notice.

Multiple sources close to the situation say Baldwin is understandably disheartened. After nearly a decade of building a basketball culture anchored in discipline, structure, and international standards, it seems that his contributions have been undervalued in a moment of transition.

Yet, true to character, Baldwin isn’t expected to lash out or walk away mid-season. Instead, he will fulfill his commitments, lead Ateneo on a training trip to Madrid this June, and push his squad to overachieve one last time. Quiet professionalism has always been his brand — and it will likely remain so until his final day in Katipunan.

PBA Teams Should Take Notice

While the writing appears to be on the wall in the UAAP, the door is wide open for a potential move to the PBA.

Baldwin’s coaching pedigree is unquestionable. He’s a former head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas national team, helped build TNT Tropang Giga’s current title-winning identity, and has international experience with New Zealand, Jordan, and Lebanon. His basketball philosophy — rooted in ball movement, structured defense, and smart pace control — has proven adaptable in both amateur and professional settings.

With several PBA teams needing a tactical overhaul, structure, and a winning culture, Baldwin is arguably the best available coach in the market, whether they know it yet or not.

Three Key Reasons PBA Teams Should Call Tab Baldwin:

  1. Championship Pedigree – Few coaches in the country have his resume or track record of consistent success at multiple levels.

  2. Player Development – Baldwin has a proven eye for developing local talent and maximizing role players — a skill essential for any rebuilding or retooling team.

  3. System Culture – He installs structure and identity, something many PBA squads lack amid constant coaching changes and short-term thinking.

Final Word

This impending Ateneo divorce may be unfortunate, even ungrateful — but it’s not the end for Tab Baldwin. For a coach who has already overcome multiple dismissals in his long career, this is just another page in the story.

And for PBA franchises bold enough to think long-term and invest in a real system, Baldwin could be the missing piece to a title run.

His exit from Ateneo may be a loss for the UAAP, but it should be a call to action for the professional ranks.

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