Tab Baldwin is taking it in stride the exodus of talents from Ateneo men’s basketball team ahead of the UAAP Season 87. 

While intense and volatile inside the court, the 66-year-old mentor accepted with grace when his supposed reliable holdovers from last year’s campaign all decided to leave one after the other.

For Baldwin, it was just best to move on and focus on what’s within his control — that is translating his brilliant mentorship into a championship which he has accomplished four times in his eight year tenure in Ateneo. 

What’s one more but another realistic undertaking. 

“You move on [from players leaving]. What else can you do? I’ve been a believer for a long time, you try to control the controllable, and don’t worry about the uncontrollables and that’s certainly something that’s not within my control. So I don’t worry about it,” Baldwin told Manila Bulletin. 

Right at the end of the past season, Ateneo saw the departure of six players including Mason Amos, who spent his rookie year with Ateneo before deciding to take his act to the school’s fierce rival in La Salle.

The Katipunan-based team sustained its Final Four streak for the ninth consecutive time but lost the Archers last season.

As everybody is moving from that brouhaha, the UAAP officially took action and implemented a new member-to-member schools two-year eligibility rule that aims to protect interests of all involved parties. 

Right at the center of it are student athletes fighting for their freedom to choose and the eight participating schools seeking to protect their program. 

Though the decision was a culmination of varying factors, Amos’ transfer was the last straw that saw the rise of the new rule. 

As Baldwin sees it, though, it will take some time to see it take full effect and as he remains unbothered by it. 

“I don’t really know [how it’s gonna go]. I think that remains to be seen. I think from the standpoint of the UAAP, it might get some stability. From the standpoint of the players, it takes away some of their freedom. So, I think it depends on which side of the fence you’re looking at from. And for me, I’m a coach so I don’t worry about that stuff,” he said. 

For now, all Baldwin wants is to gain an important head start when the Blue Eagles kick off their campaign against University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.