Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin. INQUIRER
POSIBLENG mapatawan ng multa at masuspindi si Gilas Pilipinas program director Tab Baldwin matapos ang tirada nito sa Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) at komento nito sa ilang local coaches kamakailan.
Hindi lang multa at suspensyon mula sa PBA ang haharapin ng multi-titled Ateneo Blue Eagles coach kundi pati na rin ang sama ng loob ng mga local coaches, lalo na ang ilang humawak sa national team, at pro league na suportado ang national program.
“We take pride in our work. That’s why coach Tab has to be specific on what he’s talking about,” sabi ni NLEX Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao, na dating coach ng Gilas Pilipinas. “I would also want to know what is his intention because if he wants to uplift coaching in the country, there is a forum to do it without offending anyone. A lot of us coaches are humble enough to accept things.”
Hindi rin ikinatuwa ni PBA commissioner Willie Marcial ang komento ni Baldwin patungkol sa officiating at league format dahil nakakasira umano ito sa liga at sinabi pa ni Marcial na may tamang lugar kung saan pwede kang maglabas ng hinaing.
Ang PBA Commissioner’s Office ay nagpapataw ng multa sa mga coaches at players sa kanilang maanghang na komento patungkol sa officiating at siguradong hindi makakaligtas si Baldwin dito.
Maging si PBA governor Alfrancis Chua ng Barangay Ginebra, na isa ring dating coach, ay hindi rin pinalampas ang sinabi ni Baldwin na ang mga Filipino coaches ay “tactically immature.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to make comments like that at a time like this when there’s a pandemic and the PBA is trying its best to resume the season,” sabi ni Chua sa panayam ng Inquirer.
Sinabi rin ni Baldwin, na hinatid ang Blue Eagles sa tatlong diretsong UAAP titles, na hindi nakakabuti ang one-import format ng PBA dahil hindi nito napapalago ang laro sa bansa.
Sinabi naman ni Marcial na dapat na ipinaabot ni Baldwin ang nasabing bagay kay TNT governor Ricky Vargas, na siyang chairman ng PBA Board, at hindi sa media.
“The league is always welcoming with comments and suggestions as long as it’s done through the proper channels,” sabi pa ni Marcial. “His comments cast the league in a bad light. It’s detrimental to the PBA.”