NBN scores RP cagers for protest against PBL chief

"Grant us the freedom to do our work as we grant you the freedom to do yours."

This was the response of the National Broadcasting Network, the official television carrier of the 21st Southeast Asian Games, to the letter sent by the RP men’s basketball team protesting the inclusion of PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad in the NBN broadcast team.

NBN general manager Jose Isabelo insisted that the hiring of Trinidad to the broadcast team is the network prerogative and that the RP men’s team should look and think deeper than be influenced by persons who want to ‘‘ throw a monkey-wrench in our plans and coverage."

"We see Mr. Trinidad as a capable and seasoned broadcaster. If he does anything that will malign you while within the ambit of our coverage, rest assured that we will be the first to do what is right," said Isabelo.

Barely 24 hours after being declared the official representative to the Kuala Lumpur Games, the Romel Adducul-led cage team threatened to boycott the player interviews during the coverage unless Trinidad is excluded from the broadcast team.

The coaching staff and members of the team protested the inclusion of Trinidad , saying: "someone as biased and as prejudiced as Mr. Trinidad doesn’t deserve to be part of your broadcast team."

Coach Boycie Zamar and his players said they were humiliated and maligned by Trinidad in the recent sendoff party for the RP contingent in Malacanang Palace by saying on air: "Ah, heto na ang mga feeling nila sila ang ipadadala sa SEA Games.

Isabelo said he is "saddened because we know you are all intelligent persons yet unwittingly or otherwise threatened to boycott our coverage for the flimsy reason of your dislike of one of our anchors."

"This threat of yours is reflective of some group of modus operandi of hostaging the innocent – truly, a sad commentary on the times specially when sportsmen are involved." Isabelo further insisted that threat to the networks prerogative and the coverage will be met with what is required again based on what is right.

PBL chairman Dioceldo Sy, meanwhile, condemned the attack on the credibility of Trinidad as a sports broadcaster, adding that he was "saddened by the pathetic attempt of some personalities in using the men’s basketball team to malign Commissioner Chino Trinidad."

In his statement, Sy said: "Any person who would care to review the tape and transcript of the alleged malicious comments of Commissioner Trinidad against the men’s basketball team would find them both truthful and factual. To attribute the malice in those comments stretches both imagination and logic. Such mindset has no place in a civilized society."

Sy said that it has always been the practice and policy of the PBL that whoever is its commissioner will be afforded all the respect and support of the board and all its member teams. And any attack on the personality and credibility of the PBL commissioner is likewise an attempt to discredit the PBL itself.

"I cannot take any attempt to attack the credibility of the PBL commissioner sitting down. His leadership in the PBL is both highly regarded and indispensable. Furthermore, his career as a broadcaster is considered by the (PBL) board as an added asset to the repertoire of talents which brings along that benefits him and the league as PBL Commissioner."