The Ateneo Blue Eagles may have been grounded to their lowest point since head coach Tab Baldwin took over the program but that doesn’t mean the veteran mentor is going elsewhere – at least that’s how he wanted it to be.

With rumors continuing to swirl about his potential departure from the Blue Eagles' nest, Baldwin cleared the air and stressed that he wanted to stay with Ateneo although he noted that it was not for him to decide alone.

“My decision is yes (staying with Ateneo), 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,” said Baldwin after the Eagles’ 69-55 loss to the Adamson Soaring Falcons last weekend.

“But my goal, my decision [and] earnestness is to coach the Blue Eagles next year,” he added.

There were also rumors that Baldwin is also close to being sacked after a forgettable season that saw the once perennial contender Ateneo bow out of contention with a 4-10 slate –tying its worst all-time record which it set in 1997.

Ateneo had a rough 1-6 start to the season and, while it, made a couple of victories in the second round, it was not enough to push them to another Final Four berth.

But for Baldwin, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

“The lessons of not being successful are oftentimes far more powerful and far more instructive than the lessons that we can learn from success,” the American-Kiwi mentor continued.

“Nonetheless, I think all of us would trade those lessons in a heartbeat for more success, but, you know, this is what the Lord has in store for us now,” he added. “And we will, in humility, accept that and try to grow and be better because of it.”

He also lauded his wards’ way of adopting to changes and as well their resiliency in front of the immense pressure.

“And my respect for the team to have to battle through that adversity, players having to accept roles that they honestly weren't prepared for, players having to step into positional responsibilities, frankly,” said Baldwin.

“They didn't come to Ateneo and to the Blue Eagle program to have to play in those positions. That doesn't garner anything but respect from me,” he added.