Tab Baldwin clarifies comments on PBA after backlash

Tab Baldwin on Monday has reached out to officials of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to clarify the comments he made in the "Coaches Unfiltered" podcast.

According to a report on the league website, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas program director spoke to league commissioner Willie Marcial, Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro, and legal counsel Atty. Melvin Mendoza in a virtual meeting.

Baldwin drew flak after saying that the PBA's single import format is a "big mistake" and that imports were given "regulatory advantages" by the referees.

"I feel bad that has happened and that is not my intention," said the former Gilas Pilipinas head coach.

He explained that his comments were taken out of context and the questions were pertaining to "what surprised me when I first came to the Philippines."

In the podcast, Baldwin also commented on the "tactical immaturity" of basketball coaches who are "significantly unaware of the tactical advancements and the systemic advancements of coaching systems coming out of Europe in particular."

He said, however, it "isn't necessarily coaches' fault."

"The PBA coaches are smart lot. They're good basketball coaches, but they could be much better if they were forced to coach much more, I believe, I think then they would show their real talents," he said.

Marcial said that Baldwin will be fined and possibly suspended for comments "detrimental to the league."

The PBA has yet to release an official decision on Baldwin's sanctions. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News