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| Tab Baldwin is leaving TNT but not because of his statements that led to his PBA suspension. Dennis Acosta (file photo) |
MANILA--TNT let go of Tab Baldwin as a part of its coaching staff.
Team Manager Gabby Cui confirmed on Thursday that the concurrent SBP program director for Gilas Pilipinas Men and Ateneo head coach will no longer join Head Coach Bong Ravena and Active Consultant Mark Dickel in the KaTropa's coaching staff.
However, Cui clarified that the decision to relieve Baldwin of his TNT assistant coaching position has nothing to do with his still talked about take on the PBA and the Filipino coaches.
"We decided on this transition way before the lockdown," Cui said in a statement.
Baldwin, in the Coaches Unfiltered podcast, said that the current format of the PBA Commissioner's and Governors' Cups, in which each team can sign up one foreign player of a certain height limit per conference, "is a big mistake."
He also thought the referees are making distinctions on what is to be called a foul on a local and the import, calling it a "rules latitude."
The said statements did not sit well with the PBA, and despite an apology a few days after the podcast was released, the league slapped Baldwin with a three-game suspension plus a PHP75,000 fine.
[Related Story: Tab Baldwin gets hefty fine, suspension from PBA for controversial podcast talk]
When initial reports surfaced about Baldwin leaving TNT, many thought it is part of the aftermath of his podcast guesting.
But Cui reiterated, "Coach Tab will be focusing on his coaching chores in Ateneo and his role in SBP (program director for Gilas Pilipinas Men)."
He added, "The team is adapting well to the system of Coach Bong Ravena and Team Consultant Mark Dickel."
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