Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin during the UAAP Season 87 press conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin dismissed a report about his possible return to the New Zealand men’s basketball team, describing it as merely “speculation.”
Days before the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament opener, Marc Hinton of The Post in Wellington, New Zealand, cited Baldwin as one of the candidates for the vacant head coaching position for the Tall Blacks.
But Baldwin, who has a contract with the Blue Eagles through 2025, said he doesn’t have an offer from anybody.
READ: UAAP Season 87 tips off with Ateneo-UP clash
Ateneo coach Tab Balwin’s outlook for the Blue Eagles’ #UAAPSeason87 campaign. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/if7h9DmO1l
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) September 4, 2024
“That’s speculation. Media speculation,” he told reporters in the UAAP Season 87 press conference on Wednesday at Novotel Hotel.
The American-Kiwi coach handled the New Zealand team in the early 2000s before he took his act to Jordan and Lebanon.
Baldwin then went to the Philippines as a consultant to Chot Reyes at Gilas Pilipinas in 2013. He also handled the squad in 2015 but left his post for Ateneo. He returned to Gilas in 2021 but parted ways anew and was replaced by Reyes the following year.
Rumors about the 66-year-old Baldwin’s possible departure to coach elsewhere have been on and off since last year.
Baldwin, however, reiterated his commitment to Ateneo. He said his future is up to the school and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan.
READ: UAAP: Tab Baldwin hopes Final Four exit ‘lights fire’ under Ateneo
The Blue Eagles were dethroned last year after placing fourth with a 7-7 record and fell to the twice-to-beat University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the Final Four.
It may be a tough Season 87 ahead for Ateneo after losing Kai Ballungay, Jared Brown, Geo Chiu, Gab Gomez, Jason Credo, and Raffy Celis as well as Mason Amos, who transferred to La Salle but Baldwin is excited amid the “huge challenge” for blue chip recruits Jared Bahay and Kristian Porter and holdovers Sean Quitevis and Chris Koon.
Ateneo and archrival UP open the UAAP Season 87 on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum following the opening ceremony, highlighted by the Eraserheads’ reunion concert.