Ateneo tabbing Baldwin as head coach

BALDWIN: From Pilipinas blue to Katipunan blue? Photo from Fiba.com

After three failed attempts at the UAAP Men’s basketball championship, Ateneo is not taking things for granted and is reportedly set to bring in Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin to call the shots for the Blue Eagles next year.

The Inquirer learned of this development from a very reliable source who said that the naturalized Kiwi has now become the frontrunner—if not the chosen one already—to take over the Ateneo program from resigned Bo Perasol.

Another source contacted for confirmation told the Inquirer: “We’re headed in that direction. It’s 80 percent done.”

After a string of five straight championships under Norman Black that ended after the 2012 season, Ateneo finished out of the Final Four in Perasol’s first season in 2013 and could not finish higher than third.

Perasol tendered his resignation just a couple of days after the Blue Eagles lost in the Final Four to eventual champion Far Eastern two weeks ago, and immediately, names have been floated as to his possible replacement.

Black, former national coach Chot Reyes, Alaska assistant Louie Alas and Ronnie Magsanoc and Boyet Fernandez, who are both members of the coaching staff of teams belonging to the Manny V. Pangilinan conglomerate in the PBA, were among those considered.

But Baldwin, both sources said, is Perasol’s most likely successor.

“It’s almost done,” said the first source. “Although, from what we know, it will just be for one year.”

Baldwin, who has two Fiba Asia silver medals in twin losses to China—the latest coming with Gilas Pilipinas last Oct. 3—is also part of the coaching staff of Pangilinan’s Talk ‘N Text in the PBA.