FOR better or worse, Tab Baldwin's legacy in Philippine basketball will be tied to Ateneo.
Since taking over in 2016, Baldwin guided the Blue Eagles to four championships, along with two runner-up finishes, in eight seasons.
That's an impressive win rate that leaves no doubt the American-Kiwi mentor established and reinforced BEBOB (Blue Eagles Band of Brothers) as the UAAP's modern dynasty.
Heading into Season 88, however, a cloud of uncertainty hovers above Baldwin's head, as he continues to coach into the last months of his contract.
Even a year ago, the question of his last season for the blue-and-white was already all over the place; only to be silenced when the brilliant tactician clarified his employment actually runs until the end of 2025.
Fast forward to today and there are four months left in 2025 - meaning there are four months left in Baldwin's deal with Ateneo and the inquiry volume has been turned back up.
Of course, the multi-time collegiate champion coach is thinking about his immediate future.
"You think about everything. You think about the team being successful then sitting down (with management) and discussing the future. You think about what if we get a lot of injuries, what if we don't measure up, and the organization wants to look elsewhere," he told SPIN.ph.
"But I've been a coach for a long time. It is what it is."
Ateneo's game plan
Make no mistake, however, all that matters for Baldwin is making sure the Blue Eagles are ready and raring to fight their way out of their last-place finish from the past season.
READ: ATENEO UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Welcome to the Blue Eagles as darkhorse era
As he put it, "It doesn't affect the way I come to work. It doesn't affect how I approach the team and the game. In reality, it's a non-entity. I'll be ready for anything that comes."
What's certain is that Jared Bahay and Co. will go all-out right from their first game against Far Eastern University on September 20 - not only for their shot-caller, but also for their proud program and school.
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