Tab Baldwin

Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin made good on his promise as his Blue Eagles celebrated their conquest of the UAAP men’s basketball championship. When Ateneo settled for a runner-up finish against La Salle last year, the Kiwi-American mentor boldly said: “We shall return and be champions.” True enough, Ateneo got back at its rival as the Blue Eagles dethroned the Green Archers in a Game 3 thriller, 88-86, for their first title in five years. “They say in moments like this, you think about the most important things. And I just think about how hard we’ve worked,” said Baldwin, who leaned on Thirdy Ravena, Matt Nieto and Isaac Go. “They just responded every step of the way and when we ran into real adversity—none bigger than that tremendous La Salle basketball team—they found a way. And a lot of it is their heart, soul and courage.”