Veteran sportscaster Butch Maniego passes away at 50

Veteran sportscaster and Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League director Butch Maniego signed off Sunday afternoon after a long battle with a kidney ailment. He was 50.

 

The PBA, in a post on its Twitter account Sunday night, sought prayers for the repose of Maniego's soul.

 

"Please pray for the eternal repose of the soul of PBA D-League Director Butch Maniego. RIP sir," it said.

 

Sports site SPIN.ph, where Maniego was a columnist, said Maniego still reported at the PBA office in Libis last Friday to finalize the game schedule for the new season of the PBA D-League.

 

Maniego had been the D-League's tournament supervisor since it started in 2010.

 

"(H)e made sure his work was finally done before his untimely death on Sunday afternoon," wrote Spin.ph's Gerry Ramos.  

Maniego left the PBA in 1998 for the then newly launched rival Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), which folded in 2002. He then served at the Philippine Basketball League as executive director until the PBL also ended in 2010. — ELR, GMA News