CHICAGO - I knew he was coming my way since his basketball season ended several weeks ago, but as they say, nothing could really prepare you for the real thing.
And so there I was on Sunday, starstruck and a little intimidated as the great coach Tab Baldwin made his way through the escalator to meet me at the second floor of the Hyatt Regency, a four-star diamond hotel a few miles from downtown Chicago.
Clad in jeans and a zip-up Ateneo hoodie, a black backpack and luggage in tow, Tab looked immensely fit and his strong grip suggested a man who can bench press 220 pounds on a bad day.
After an exchange of spirited greetings, we headed to the O'H American Grill where I plowed through a plate of fruits, pancakes and strips of bacon while coach Tab had a more healthy option that included a chef-made omelette, Greek yogurt and a small pile of berries.
And then we talked.
The wounds of a disappointing Season 87 still bothers him a lot but he couldn't have asked for more from his players who fought valiantly despite wrestling the demons of inconsistency and inexperience.
THE CAVALRY IS COMING.
But more assets will come to infuse a lineup that lost a couple of veterans, which is why he flew to the US on a recruiting trip that included a pit-stop in the talent-rich Midwest.
A few Fil-Am reinforcements are actually there in Manila already but there's this one freaky athletic kid that could light the Blue Eagles program on fire if he chooses to play at Ateneo.
It was a topic he wasn't eager to discuss but the elephant in the room had to be addressed.
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Tab is currently toiling on a contract that expires in December 2025. The absence of an extension offer was not surprising given Ateneo's last-place finish at 4-10.
But it's also shocking considering that Baldwin has delivered four UAAP titles to Ateneo including one in 2022. It's not like he suddenly got lazy and allowed the Blue Eagles to rot.
THE CONTRACT SITUATION DOESN't BOTHER HIM AT ALL.
"Look, I had a great run, mate, Nine wonderful years. I'll always be grateful for the opportunity Boss MVP and Ateneo gave me," he said.
Relentlessly honorable, he vowed to coach this last year of his deal as though it was his first.
"The goal is always to play hard and win. That never changes," he added.
Coach Tab refused to speculate about his future but if Season 88 will indeed be his last at Ateneo, he won't be out of a job for long.
Several of Baldwin's players are now coaches or executives in several leagues around the world and they will be in line to acquire him as a trusted consultant.
Coach Tab can also return to the NBL where he won five titles and four Coach of the Year honors. He can also choose several national team assignments, including Indonesia which doggedly pursued him months before,
Long story short, he'll be just fine.
Letting him walk is Ateneo's loss, not his.
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