Tab Baldwin sounds off on UAAP Season 88’s wild ride, as Final Four race still wide open

After 40 games of twists, upsets, and wild finishes, National University has quietly climbed to the top of the standings at 8–2, seizing control of a race that was expected to be dominated by the defending champion University of the Philippines and De La Salle University.

The Fighting Maroons (7–3) and Green Archers (6–4) still hover close behind, but their grip on Final Four security has loosened amid the chaos. In fact, no team has officially clinched a semifinal berth — a rarity this deep into the season.

Hovering right in the thick of things are Ateneo de Manila University, Adamson University, and University of Santo Tomas, each sitting at 5–5, while Far Eastern University lurks at 4–6, still within striking distance.

Every win — and every misstep — now reshapes the standings overnight.

For Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, the current parity speaks volumes about how fiercely competitive the league has become.

UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Team Standings as of Wednesday, 5 November 2025, 19:30.
– Final Four Berth
O – Twice-to-Beat
– Eliminated
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.#UAAPseason88 #UAAP88 #UAAPBasketball
UAAP SEASON 88 Mens Basketball
UAAP LIVE TODAY pic.twitter.com/lvO2A0OHCz

— The Dogshow 24/7 (@TheDogShow247) November 5, 2025

“Well, I don’t think anybody should be sitting there feeling really confident. Maybe NU, you know, they’re in a good position right now. But the pack is tight and talented,” said Baldwin after the Blue Eagles’ latest game.

“And when you look at, you know, Adamson and ourselves sitting there, both of us having lost to FEU. And, you know, FEU is another team that you just can’t, you know, go to sleep on them.”

Baldwin’s Eagles are perhaps the best embodiment of the season’s volatility — opening their title defense with four straight victories, only to drop five consecutive games before clawing their way back to .500.

UST has had a similar roller-coaster run. The Growling Tigers stormed to second place with a 5–2 first round before crashing to a three-game skid to begin the second half.

“I don’t feel confident. But we’re in with a fight, you know. And I think that’s the first thing,” Baldwin admitted. “You know, you gotta punch your ticket to get there by being in the fight.”

As the league barrels toward the final stretch, every game has effectively become a playoff — a sentiment Baldwin captured perfectly.

“The league this year is crazy, you know, and a lot of fun. And I think everybody’s going to be watching this next game very closely,” he added. “And every game day now, I think standings are going to swing around back and forth. So that’s why I think nobody can really be comfortable right now and you gotta show up every game and play it like it’s a playoff game now.”

With no clear favorite and seven teams still fighting for four spots, UAAP Season 88 is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable campaigns in recent memory — and perhaps, the most exciting.

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