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MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo de Manila University formally appointed Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin as the new head coach of the Blue Eagles on Monday, December 7.
In a memo posted on Ateneo’s website, President Jose Ramon Villarin SJ confirmed that the American-Kiwi Baldwin will take over for Bo Perasol, who head coached Ateneo from 2013 to 2015.
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Anthony ‘Tab’ Baldwin as Head Coach of our Men’s basketball team,” it was stated in the memo
“Many of you may know Coach Tab because of his great success with our Gilas Team which won the silver medal in the FIBA Asia tourney last October. Coach Tab is a multi-titled mentor who has extensive coaching experience internationally, having coached the national teams of Jordan, New Zealand, and Lebanon.”
Villarin also mentioned Blue Eagles patron Manny Pangilinan in the memo, saying that the university “could not have accomplished bringing such a renowned coach to the Ateneo” without him.
“On behalf of the Ateneo de Manila, I would like to thank Coach Bo Perasol for leading our team these last three years. We remain truly grateful to him for all that he has done for us and we wish him all the best,” Villarin also said.
Baldwin’s coaching career started in US NCAA Division II hoops with the Auburn Montgomery Warkawks in the 1980s. He also coached Division I school University of Central Florida Knights before spending time coaching teams in New Zealand, Turkey, Lebanon, and Malaysia.
Baldwin took over as Gilas head coach in 2014 and led the national team to a silver-medal finish in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. He’s currently a consultant for the Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters in the PBA.
A 4-time NBL Coach of the Year, the 57-year-old has also won gold medals in the FIBA Oceania Championship, FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup, and Southeast Asian Games.
The memo says that Baldwin and the Blue Eagles will begin preparations for the 2016 UAAP basketball season this month. Just recently, De La Salle University and Adamson University hired Aldin Ayo and Franz Pumaren as new head coach, respectively.
Although the Blue Eagles are losing Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal, Fonzo Gotladera, and Gwynne Capacio to graduation, they’re still poised to have a formidable team next season with returning players Arvin Tolentino, Aaron Black, Adrian Wong, the Nieto twins, and more.
Ateneo is also expected to welcome former San Sebastian standout CJ Perez and welcome back Thirdy Ravena, Kiefer’s younger brother who’s also a former UAAP juniors MVP. – Rappler.com
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