MANILA, Philippines — The PBA sanctioned TNT KaTropa assistant coach Tab Baldwin for his “detrimental statements” against the league, making him serve a three-game suspension when action resumes and pay P75,000 in fines.
Commissioner Willie Marcial handed the penalty a day after hearing the side of the apologetic Baldwin, who caused furor over his critique of the PBA’s import-flavored tournaments, officiating and coaching during a podcast.
“His comments were deemed detrimental to the league,” said Marcial of Baldwin’s assertion of the single-import conferences as a “big mistake” and of “rules latitude” in favor of the imports.
“There’s a proper venue if he wants to give a suggestion or ask about a policy. He can approach me or officials of his team (TNT),” Marcial further stated.
Baldwin had apologized to Marcial during their online meeting last Monday, explaining his controversial statements were “taken out of context.”
“I feel bad that has happened but that is not my intention,” Baldwin was quoted by the league as telling Marcial.
The Gilas Pilipinas program director stressed that his comments were in response to the question “what surprised me when I first came to the Philippines?”
He gave a lengthy reply and he told the commissioner it was taken out of context.
Filipino coaches are also up in arms over what Baldwin termed as “tactical immaturity” on their part.
The Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines issued a second statement on the issue yesterday, slamming Baldwin for “making no effort to share his knowledge.”
“He has not participated in free sharing of ideas which other coaches do at this time of crisis in webinars, which other decorated international coaches go out of their way to do,” it said.