(From Manila Bulletin)
Officials and representatives of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) on Tuesday had mixed reactions but most expressed disbelief over the reported resignation of Commissioner Chino Trinidad.
Trinidad announced his resignation without officially informing any of the league members through his Facebook message the other day where he said he has “lost his passion for the sport.”
He also said the country’s number one sport has not lived up to his expectations. “It’s in bad shape,” he said without elaborating.
Trinidad said he will now focus his attention to boxing which he said should continue its tradition of excellence after Manny Pacquiao is gone.
Trinidad, who, on many occasions had left the management of the PBL to his subalterns because of his frequent travels to the United States as commentator in the NBA Finals and, in recent years, of Pacquiao’s many fights, said he will end his term after the current PBL tournament.
He will leave the PBL practically fighting for survival after some elite college teams, which during the last few years had been the backbone of its existence, decided not to participate, forcing some teams to withdraw from the league.
The opening of the current tournament was also delayed three times as the PBL scrambled to fill the slots vacated by the withdrawal of past members after it was left with just four teams.
Some league members, however, remain hopeful Trinidad will reconsider his decision.
“I don’t think Chino will do it, he might just be tired,” Toyota Otis board representative Gil Angeles said. “Unless I see him and he says it in front of me that he’s resigning then that’s the time that I will believe.”
“Besides, the board has yet to receive a letter informing us about his supposed resignation. For now, we just have to wait for him to arrive before we can act on this matter,” said Angeles noting Trinidad might be tired emotionally since he’s been away from his family for almost a month now.
Trinidad, who has been at the helm of the league since 2000, is in Los Angeles covering Manny Pacquiao for his fight against Joshua Clottey at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).
Even PBL chairman emeritus Raymund Yu of Welcoat Paints and last year’s chairman Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre franchise were also caught by surprise.
Romero and Yu said they will try to talk to Trinidad when the 41-year-old PBL executive returns from his coverage.
“If it is true then the league will lose a great leader. But no matter what happens, the league must go on, the show must go on,” Yu said.
Romero, who owns a record seven straight championships but whose franchise took a leave of absence this conference, echoed Yu’s sentiment.
“I was surprised to read it in the papers. I know his passion for sports, especially for basketball. But I will still try to talk to him,” Romero said. “He spent 10 good years of his life in the PBL, so maybe we can still do about it.”
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