THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) on Tuesday slapped the now controversial American-New Zealander Tab Baldwin a P75,000 fine and a three-game suspension for his unsavory remarks against the PBA and local coaches.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial handed the punishment a day after Baldwin tried to clear the air with league officials in his capacity as one of the assistant coaches at TNT KaTropa.
“I feel bad that this has happened and that is not my intention,” Baldwin was quoted as saying by the PBA’s official web site.
Baldwin faced an online inquiry with Marcial, deputy commissioner and operations chief Eric Castro and legal counsel Melvin Mendoza on Monday upon orders of the Commissioner’s Office.
“He apologized and said he was taken out of context,” Marcial said. “I told him this [PBA] is the propel channel for him to air his comments.”
“I have a job to do [as commissioner] and you also have a job to do [as a member of the TNT coaching staff]. So I hope you will respect my decision,” Marcial told Baldwin.
“Yes Comm, I have no choice. I’ll respect your decision,” Marcial quoted Baldwin on his reply to the panel.
“Yes Comm, I have no choice. I’ll respect your decision.’ So ganun ang tema.’”
Baldwin’s penalty fell under PBA rules covering statements made by players, coaches, team owners and managers and any other league personnel that are deemed detrimental to the league. His three-game suspension would take effect once the league returns to action.
Baldwin drew the ire of the Philippine basketball community when he told a coaches podcast that the PBA’s single-import conference is a “big mistake” and that Filipino coaches are “tactically immature.”
Baldwin, a former coach of the New Zealand men’s national team and Gilas Pilipinas, said he made his comments in reply to the question “what surprised me when I first came to the Philippines.”
San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua, a former coach with Sta. Lucia Realty and Ginebra, NLEX’s Yeng Guiao and Magnolia’s Chito Victolero, as well as the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines and NorthPort owner Rep. Mikee Romero went vocal in slamming Baldwin.
The 62-year-old Baldwin coached the Ateneo Blue Eagles to three consecutive University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s crown. He also heads the Gilas Pilipinas Youth national basketball program.