Romero naimbyerna kay Baldwin

MANILA, Philippines — Matapos si PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial ay si NorthPort owner at Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero (1Pacman Partylist) naman ang pumuna sa pahayag ni Gilas Pilipinas program director Tab Baldwin.

Sinabi kahapon ni Romero na dapat manahimik si Baldwin para hindi maiba ang kasaysayan ng Philippine basketball partikular na ang PBA na siyang pinakamatandang professional league sa Asya.

Kamakailan ay sinabi ng American coach sa isang video podcast na isang malaking pagkakamali ang pagpapalaro ng PBA sa isang import lamang.

Mas gusto ng 62-anyos na coach ng Ateneo Blue Eagles sa UAAP na mapanood ang dalawa hanggang tatlong imports bawat PBA team.

“PBA has been very successful since the beginning so he can’t destroy our history in basketball,” wika ni Romero kay Baldiwn. “Despite this pandemic, the PBA will continue to grow and sustain its popularity among Filipinos because we love the game, we love the PBA.”

Idinagdag pa ng dating PBA chairman na walang karapatan si Baldwin na kuwestiyunin ang tournament format ng liga.

“As a guest in the country he has no right to question the format, much more the integrity of the league and its officials,” ani Romero.

Nakatakdang makipagpulong si Marcial sa kanyang technical staff para sa posib­leng parusang igagawad ng liga kay Baldwin, isa sa mga assistant coaches sa TNT Katropa.

Ikinainis din nina NLEX coach Yeng Guiao at Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines president Louie Gonzalez ang sinasabi ni Baldwin na “tactical  immaturity” ng mga local coaches.

“For me it sounds like racism,” wika ni Romero. “While he helped steer Ateneo to UAAP cham­pionships, he’s not entitled to underestimate the capabilities of our local coaches.”