Tab Baldwin resigns as head coach of Ateneo Blue Eagles

No decision yet on the UAAP board

AND it is over.

The Tab Baldwin era in Katipunan has come to an abrupt end on Monday in the aftermath of one of the biggest tragedies in Philippine sports history that claimed the lives of promising Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Mr. Baldwin, 68, has tendered his resignation which Ateneo accepted in immediate effect as one of the school’s first steps in revamping the once glorious and gold-standard basketball program that has now gone under fire by both public scrutiny, alumni and faculty pressure, and government probes on the heels of the drowning incident of their two players during a “team building” deemed later on as routine training camp on Monday at the Hermanos Leisure Farm in Barangay Lipit in Dipaculao, Aurora.

“We thank him for the years of service to the Blue Eagles but as we enter a period of deep institutional review, a change of leadership is necessary to ensure a full integrity of our sports programs and our safety protocols,” said Ateneo President Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, on Monday during a press conference at the Faber Hall in ADMU campus.

“We must look inward, examine our systems and rebuild the structures of our athletic programs so that our fields and playing courts will be places where dreams are nurtured, not broken.”

Blue Eagles team manager Epok Quimpo has also stepped down from his post, leaving Ateneo with only its assistant coaches and staff in an overhaul considered as “necessary,” seven days after the tragedy now under the national microscope and way beyond just a sporting issue.

Mr. Baldwin started coaching the Blue Eagles in 2016 and led them to four championships, including a three-peat feat and a perfect season before the COVID-19 pandemic. Ateneo, however, has not made the UAAP Final Four in the last two seasons as its Katipunan rival University of the Philippines and its archnemesis De La Salle University took turns in ruling the league.

Hopes were high on this year’s Blue Eagles roster for the redemption of its lost glory at last with the addition of Batang Gilas and UAAP MVP Kieffer Alas from La Salle, a bevy of Fil-American recruits and the 6-foot-4 ace Mr. Baterbonia, an up-and-coming high school star from Ateneo de Davao University who steered the Davao Region to its first-ever Palarong Pambansa win in 2025 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

With no head coach and team manager, Ateneo on Sunday has withdrawn from the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup after only playing one game last Saturday marked by a 72-52 win against Adamson University at the FilOil Centre in San Juan, where Mr. Baterbonia, 19, and Mr. Adili, 21, were last seen behind the bench before the team’s infamous journey to Aurora that same weekend.

The Blue Eagles will also not push through with their title defense bid in Japan’s University Top League in Yoshinogari on Aug. 12 to 14 against premier schools like Chuo, Nagoya Gakuin and Kanagawan universities.

And with these latest developments on two tournaments Ateneo was in, the biggest question now lead to their mother league.

Will Ateneo still play in the upcoming UAAP Season 89?

“’Yung sa UAAP, wala pang desisyon. Wala pa. Pinag-aaralan namin ‘yun pero wala pa talagang desisyon o kung anong gagawin. Nagsabi na ‘yung UAAP board, may statement na ang UAAP so susunod kami doon,” added Mr. Yap in response to public outcry that the school should take a leave of absence or the UAAP should serve them a suspension.

It’s the first live statement on public by Mr. Yap, who has released multiple statements last week, reiterating the university’s sincerest apologies to the families of Mr. Baterbonia and Mr. Adili.

“On behalf of ADMU, I am here to say, simply and directly that we are truly, deeply sorry. We apologize unreservedly to the families and to our entire community for the agonizing pain of this tragedy,” he said, in tears and hoarse voice, while also clearing that Ateneo informed both families right away after the tragedy in contrast to public perception that there was a radio silence.

“Two young men entrusted to our care and did not return home and that fact breaks our hearts. No explanation, context or words can undo that loss. We face this moment and ask for your prayers, and your forgiveness,” he added, noting that it was him and other school officials who welcomed the Baterbonia family during the first day of the wake at the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City.

The university also offered full assistance to the Baterbonia family for their travel itineraries from Agusan del Sur to Manila and back, but respected the family’s decision to accept the similar offer of the Agusan local government unit instead. A similar gesture is being coordinated to the Adili family from Nigeria to Manila and back.

Mr. Adili’s wake is currently being held at the Immaculate Concepcion Chapel inside the Manila campus while Mr. Baterbonia’s has been transferred on Monday to his home in Talacogon from a three-day tribute in his alma mater in Ateneo de Davao University, particularly at the Senior High School Bangkal Campus Christ the King Chapel.

Ateneo also stressed that it’s not “evading accountability,” vowing a full cooperation to the ongoing probes by the government, the Commission on Higher Education and other sporting organizations. Subpoenas were already issued to Ateneo officials and coaches but as per the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the involved personalities including Mr. Baldwin were no-show in Monday’s inquiry.

With its sister school in Davao granting full scholarships until college to all six siblings of Mr. Baterbonia, Ateneo de Manila for its part has offered a “material assistance” for the families of Messrs. Baterbonia and Adili for a long period of time. The details on the material support, whether financial, livelihood, house and lot and other necessities, wasn’t disclosed.

“We see that not as a form of legal settlement but a form of moral responsibility,” cleared Mr. Yap.

The Blue Eagles have also launched an independent team made up of legal and technical experts outside the academe to look into the incident, “who will operate entirely outside Ateneo’s administrative structure” to ensure fairness, truth, accountability and justice. — John Bryan Ulanday