Who is Tab Baldwin? Ateneo coach faces scrutiny after tragedy

Ateneo Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin speaks for the first time regarding the deaths of his players,Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adil. –SCREENGRAB/ADMU VIDEO

MANILA, Philippines–Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin is an American-Kiwi coach who found his way to the Philippines.

Over the past decade, Baldwin has established himself as one of the most prominent coaches in Philippine basketball, enjoying success with both Gilas Pilipinas and Ateneo.

The veteran coach has recently come under scrutiny following the deaths of Ateneo players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Aurora, an incident that has sparked multiple investigations and renewed public attention on Baldwin.

National team stint

Baldwin is a former coach for the Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team.

He coached the team starting in 2014, and steered the Gilas to a silver medal finish in the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship and the Southeast Asian Games gold in Singapore in the same year.

Baldwin later returned to the national team setup in 2021, serving as program director and head coach before Chot Reyes reassumed the role ahead of the 2023 Fiba World Cup.

He was also a consultant for TNT in the PBA from 2014 until 2020.

In 2020, Baldwin drew controversy with the PBA after making comments about local coaches and voicing concerns over the league’s officiating and format.

The 68-year-old tactician also coached the New Zealand men’s national team, leading the Tall Blacks to a fourth-place finish in the 2002 Fiba World Championship. In 2023, he was inducted into the New Zealand Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ateneo duties

Ateneo Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin during a UAAP Season 88 second round matchup against La Salle.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Baldwin joined the Ateneo men’s basketball team in 2015 as head coach.

He led the squad, bannered by Thirdy Ravena and Isaac Go, to a Season 80 championship against Ben Mbala and the La Salle Green Archers, under coach Aldin Ayo.

Ateneo went on to establish a dynasty under Baldwin, winning championships in Seasons 81 and 82, including a perfect 16-0 campaign in 2019.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blue Eagles regained the title in Season 85, which remains the school’s most recent championship.

Baldwin also became only the fourth coach in UAAP history to reach the 100-win mark.

In September last year, Ateneo announced a three-year contract extension for Baldwin ahead of UAAP Season 88.

Aurora tragedy

Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili

Baldwin’s Ateneo tenure came under intense scrutiny after a routine training run during the Blue Eagles’ camp in Dipaculao, Aurora, claimed the lives of incoming rookie Baterbonia and sophomore Nigerian student-athlete Adili.

Initial police reports said strong rip currents swept four Ateneo players out to sea. Two managed to swim back to shore, while Baterbonia and Adili drowned. Provincial police also confirmed that Baldwin and members of the coaching staff were present during the rescue efforts.

The Philippine Sports Commission, UAAP, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the National Youth Commission (NYC) formed a joint body to probe the incident and review student-athlete safety protocols.

Separate probes are also being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Senate to determine whether administrative or criminal negligence occurred during the activity.

The Department of Labor and Employment also issued a subpoena and show-cause order related to Baldwin’s alien employment permit and the circumstances surrounding the off-campus training activity.

Ateneo said it had placed Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo on leave. The school also said it instructed Baldwin not to make public comments while the investigation was ongoing.

First public remarks

Baldwin made his first appearance during a prayer vigil for Baterbonia and Adili last Thursday. He broke his silence on Friday in a pre-recorded video released by Ateneo de Manila University.

“As a coach, I’m entrusted by you, the parents and the families, with first and foremost, their well-being. And in this, I feel I’ve failed,” Baldwin said in the video. “I’m sorry, to the depth of my being, I’m sorry.”

The longtime coach also reflected on the tragedy and his responsibility as the leader of the program.

“In that moment, I felt I had failed,” Baldwin said. “I failed as a leader. I felt I had failed as a coach. I certainly felt like I had failed as a friend to Divine and Rene.”