MANILA – Talk ‘N Text KaTropa assistant coach Tab Baldwin has been slapped with a three-game suspension plus a P75,000 fine by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The Kiwi-American will serve the suspension once the league’s season returns from a halt due to coronavirus disease 2019.
Baldwin, who is also the head coach of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, was handed the penalty by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial a day after the two met to “clear the air” following the fire created by the former’s comments during the Coaches Unfiltered podcast last week.
On the podcast, Baldwin slammed the PBA due to its single import conference and the league’s referees for favoring the imports. He also said there that the PBA coaches are ‘tactically immature’.
“Okay naman. Nag-usap kami. Nag-apologize siya,” Marcial said in an interview with Tiebreaker Times. “Sinabi niya na he was taken out of context, so sabi ko okay. Sabi ko ito ‘yung venue, ito ‘yung tamang channel ‘pag may gusto kang sabihin.”
He added: Sabi ko rin sa kanya na coach, may trabaho ka, may trabaho rin akong dapat gampanan, so I hope you’ll respect my decision. Sabi niya, ‘Yes Comm (commissioner), I have no choice. I’ll respect your decision.’ So, ganun ang tema.”
Marcial has suggested Baldwin to issue a statement addressing all those who have been offended, but it will all depend on the foreigner Gilas Pilipinas program director if he will do such.
“Sinabi ko sa kanya na kung ako sa ’yo – hindi naman kita sa tinuturuan coach – eh mas mainam magbigay ka ng statement or whatever para sa coaches, sa governors at sa PBA. Pero sinabi ko lang naman ‘yun. Depende pa rin sa kanya,” Marcial said.
Several coaches such as San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua, NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao, NorthPort chief mentor Pido Jarencio, and Letran head think-tank Bonnie Tan have expressed offense in reaction to Baldwin’s comments.
The Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines, headed by Louie Gonzales, also denounced the statements of the former Olympian mentor. They even issued two statements to express their strong opposition.
The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), for its part, refused to dwell on the issue but recognized that the foreign mentor is entitled to his own opinion just like other people.
“So far as the UAAP is concerned, I’m not aware of any derogatory remark attacking the integrity of the UAAP. Whether or not he uttered something that caused a stir among other organizations which he may or may not be a member of, we respect that kasi kanilang organization yun eh,” said UAAP commissioner Rebo Saguisag during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.
“But so far as the UAAP is concerned, sabi nga nung iba maganda ang sinabi about us, so no problem,” he added./PN
