TNT gov Ricky Vargas finds Tab Baldwin's apology to PBA 'little bit insincere'

TNT governor Ricky Vargas implied that Coach Tab Baldwin should have not said that he was taken out of context. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--TNT governor Ricky Vargas said that he is accepting Former Assistant Coach Tab Baldwin's personal apology to him personally regarding his still talked about comments on the PBA and how it treats the imports.

However, Vargas also said that the apology Baldwin gave to the league somehow did not sit well with him.

In particular, Vargas rued at Baldwin still telling Commissioner Willie Marcial that the statements he said in the Coaches Unfiltered podcast were "taken out of context."

[Related Story: Tab Baldwin says thoughts on PBA, PH coaches 'taken out of context']

"Ang impact sa akin ng comment niya na 'taken out of context' after he made an apology [is that he] was a little bit insincere," Vargas said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

He then explained, "It was sort of saying, 'I apologize but I was taken out of context,' so it tended to push to blaming others."

The PBA took a swipe at Baldwin's take on the one-import format for the Commissioner's and the Governors' Cup as well as the "rules latitude" the referees are giving the foreign reinforcements, calling it detrimental.

Many coaches also called out Baldwin for the "tactical immaturity" he thought about them, and even foreign mentors Rajko Toroman, Tim Cone, and Norman Black expressed their disappointment on Baldwin's comments.

"The consequence of that statement na 'taken out of context' was that it became more divisive," Vargas further commented on Baldwin's apology.

He then said this was also the reason why he chose to kept mum about the issue and that it was only the first time that he aired his take on it.

The PBA charged Baldwin with a PHP75,000 fine and a three-game suspension for his comments.

[Related Story: Tab Baldwin gets hefty fine, suspension from PBA for controversial podcast talk]

The KaTropa recently relieved Baldwin of his duties as an assistant coach, but Team Manager Gabby Cui insisted that it has nothing to do with Baldwin's commentary and that it was already planned even before the COVID-19 lockdown started.

[Related Story: Tab Baldwin out of TNT coaching staff]

Baldwin will still keep his other posts as Ateneo's head coach and SBP's program director for Gilas Pilipinas Men.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno