MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo may have been sent packing early, but coach Tab Baldwin looks forward to their off-season work in their bid to rise from a cellar-dwelling finish in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

Ateneo ended its campaign with a 4-10 record after a 69-55 loss to Adamson, which forced a playoff for No.4 against the University of the East, on Saturday night at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

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Asked what’s next for him, Baldwin bared his plan to stay in board and focus on recruitment on the road to Season 88 next year. 

READ: Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin moves on from worst UAAP loss

“We’re in the gym Tuesday. Thursday, and Saturday we’ll be in the gym. And then the following week is exam, so I’ll get a break, but I’ll be recruiting. And the week after that, we’ll start practice, formal practice,” said Baldwin.

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The four-time UAAP champion coach added that he still has one more year in his contract and if he would have his way, he would love to continue coaching the Blue Eagles.

“My decision is yes, but I’m not the ultimate decision-maker. If you want to get more confirmation, you have to talk to other people who would be involved in that decision. But my goal, my decision, my earnestness is to coach the Blue Eagles next year,” he said.

His biggest motivation will be his worst record since coaching in the UAAP in 2016. 

READ: UAAP: Tab Baldwin says struggling Ateneo feeling the pressure

“When you come off of a dip in performance, whether you’re an individual athlete or whether you’re a player in a team or a coach. I think that if you’re a competitor, you can’t wait to get the gloves on again and go to work. So I don’t really care who wins it this year. I just care about how we play in our first game next year. And there’s a hell of a lot of work to be done before we get there,” said Baldwin.

“I’ve always been a person driven by challenges, and certainly this is a big one, and it’s never a bad thing to be humble, never, and we are. Definitely, we are humbled, but I’ve got a great coaching staff. They’re all chomping at the bit. And I think maybe the players returning, they’re a little bit nervous. And that’s okay, too. But I just hope that they’re up for the challenge. And I’m certain that most of them will be,” he added.

Ateneo Blue Eagles’ graduating player Sean Quitevis hugs coach Tab Baldwin after their final elimination round game in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

READ: UAAP: Koon, Quitevis grateful for Ateneo stint despite last place

Chris Koon and Sean Quitevis have exhausted their playing years for the Blue Eagles, leaving bigger responsibilities for Jared Bahay, Kristian Porter, Shawn Tuano, and Andrew Bongo, who was entrusted with more significant roles this season after Lebron Nieto’s ACL injury and Mason Amos’ transfer to La Salle. 

“There have to be improved performances. There has to be improved training. There has to be a greater commitment from these players and the players that will join us. Success in the UAAP is not easy, and it hasn’t gotten any easier. Programs like UP and LaSalle have significantly lifted the standards,  and they’re not going to give up the ground they’ve gained very easily, nor should,” said Baldwin.

“Getting your hands dirty and getting in and being prepared to take some gut shots and some real punches to the face is exactly what we expect, and I can’t wait to feel that pain and to deliver some punches of mine.”

Baldwin said he and the Blue Eagles are motivated and he’s eager to fill in “some positional deficiencies” through recruitment.

“It’s going to be competitive to be a Blue Eagle next year, for the current players and for the players we bring in. If they’re not up for that, then I think they will be, but if for whatever reason they’re not, then, you know, it might be time to be thinking about what else they might do,” Baldwin said.

“We can’t put a lot of value in this uniform if there isn’t a fight to put it on. And before there can ever be one big fight on the court, there’s got to be one bigger fight to get into that uniform.”