Manila – Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Willie Marcial is hoping that the issue hounding the statements of Talk ‘N Text KaTropa assistant coach Tab Baldwin is now over.
Marcial made the statement a day after slapping the Kiwi-American mentor with P75,000 fine and three-game suspension for his comments that were deemed “detrimental to the league.”
“Sana matapos na,” Marcial said in an interview with the Tiebreaker Times. “Ayaw naman natin ng controversies. Sana naman.”
During the Coaches Unfiltered podcast last week, Baldwin slammed the PBA with its single import conference. He also lambasted the referees for favoring imports and PBA coaches are ‘tactically immature.’
Several coaches have expressed offense in reaction to Baldwin’s comments, such as San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua, NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao, NorthPort chief mentor Pido Jarencio, and Letran Knights coach Bonnie Tan.
The Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines, headed by Louie Gonzales, has also denounced the statements of the former Olympian mentor and issued two statements to express their strong opposition.
Marcial knew that, while it may take some time for Baldwin to settle differences with those who were offended with his comments, he is positive that it will take place the soonest.
“Sana naman ma-resolba kaagad,” the PBA commissioner said. “Ayaw naman natin na may ganyang kaguluhan. Alam mo naman sa basketball, iisang pamilya lang tayo e.”/PN
