Tab Baldwin gets hefty fine, suspension from PBA for controversial podcast talk

Tab Baldwin's latest words did not sit well with the PBA. Dennis Acosta (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--TNT assistant coach Tab Baldwin will have to serve a three-game suspension after PBA commissioner Willie Marcial made a verdict about his now controversial take on how the league goes on with its two import-spiced conferences.

On Tuesday, Marcial handed down the said ban plus a hefty PHP75,000 fine on Baldwin for his comment which was aired in the Coaches Unfiltered podcast last week.

In particular, Baldwin, who is also the head coach for Ateneo in the UAAP and the program director for Gilas Pilipinas Men in SBP, said that limiting the teams to just one foreign player per conference in both the Commissioner's and the Governors' Cups "is a big mistake."

He then looked at the "rules latitude" given to the imports and the locals, saying that what the referees call a foul to the locals are not being called to the imports and vice versa.

Those statements were deemed detrimental to the league, leading to the sanctions given to Baldwin.

He also aired his sentiments about what he thinks is the "tactical immaturity" of Filipino coaches, which drew the ire from many renowned local coaches.

In an online dialogue with Marcial, Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro, and Legal Counsel Melvin Mendoza on Monday, Baldwin apologized for what he said but claimed his words "were taken out of context."


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