The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has permanently banned former Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin from the league, two months after a training camp in Dipaculao, Aurora, where two student-athletes drowned.
Under the sanction announced Friday, Baldwin is barred from participating in any UAAP competition or related activity in any coaching, administrative, advisory or official capacity. He is also prohibited from entering any UAAP competition venue.
The UAAP said the sanction is final and cannot be appealed.
Team manager Epok Quimpo, assistant coaches Dean Castaño, Sandro Soriano, Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Hernan Domingo, Caesar Elumba and Grant Dearns, and physical therapist John Rueca were separately given indefinite suspensions pending further determination by the UAAP Board.
Unlike Baldwin’s ban, their suspensions may be appealed under UAAP rules.
The sanctions stem from the league’s administrative review of the June training camp, where Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned.
Despite the penalties, the UAAP cleared Ateneo’s men’s basketball team to compete in Season 89, saying government investigative agencies did not recommend holding the student-athletes present at the incident liable.
The league also recognized the players as victims of the tragedy and said their participation would allow them to honor their teammates’ memories through competition.
Ateneo’s participation, however, comes with a condition. The university must conduct a comprehensive review of the organizational structure and management of its men’s basketball program and its broader athletics system.
The UAAP said the reassessment should strengthen student-athlete protection, welfare, accountability and institutional oversight.
Louie Alas, a former National Collegiate Athletic Association and Metropolitan Basketball Association champion coach, has taken over as Ateneo’s interim head coach. Former Blue Eagle Nico Salva is serving as interim team manager.
With Ateneo remaining in the league, the UAAP will have eight schools competing in Season 89, which opens Sept. 12.
In a separate statement, Ateneo called on its community to support the Blue Eagles and other varsity teams as they move forward from the tragedy.
The university said the teams would continue their journey of healing, resilience, excellence and formation while honoring the memory of their fallen teammates.
