Though it might seem to some that TNT’s removal of Tab Baldwin was a knee-jerk reaction to the situation around him, Katropa team manager Gabby Cui insists that isn’t the case.
According to the amiable executive, TNT has been planning to restructure even before PBA Season 45 commenced. And part of their plan was to let head coach Bong Ravena and active consultant Mark Dickel run the show.
“We decided on this transition way before the lockdown,” Cui said in a text message to Tiebreaker Times.
“The team is adapting well to the system of Coach Bong Ravena and Team Consultant Mark Dickel.”
TNT had yet to play a game in the Philippine Cup before the suspension due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Over the past few weeks, Baldwin has come under fire after his comments on Tiebreaker Vodcasts’ Coaches Unfiltered.
When asked about what surprised him about the Philippines’ style of coaching and basketball culture, the American-Kiwi coach — who steered New Zealand to the 2004 Olympics — shared that the format of the PBA was different and that the number of games for coaches here are few compared to other leagues.
Baldwin was handed a PHP 75,000 bill by the league, and a three-game suspension.
Cui, who is also Gilas Pilipinas Men’s team manager, said that the MVP Group wants Baldwin to focus on being head coach of Ateneo and program director of Gilas Pilipinas.
“Coach Tab will be focusing on his coaching chores in Ateneo and his role in SBP,” Cui said.
“We would like to thank Coach Tab and wish him well.”
