WHILE reigning champion Ateneo and Adamson University battle for the fourth and last Final Four slot in the 86th UAAP basketball tournament, their coaches–Tab Baldwin of the Blue Eagles and the Soaring Falcons’ Nash Racela–are locked in a word war.
“I think there was a lot of nonsense in the media and from other people in the UAAP coming into this game, and I think it certainly affected and distracted the referees. I really felt for the refs today,” Baldwin said. “I think they were under an inordinate amount of pressure, and I think they did a really good job under that pressure. I know the UAAP doesn’t need me to speak for it, but I’m going anyway.
“On behalf of the UAAP, I’m embarrassed for some of the people in our family of this UAAP exerting this kind of pressure on the referees and on the Commissioner’s Office,” he added.
Baldwin spoke after Ateneo eked out an 80-74 victory over University of the East last Wednesday, in response to Racela’s criticism of the league and officiating.
A few hours later, on the same chair at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, it was Racela’s turn to air his side, saying he was surprised with Baldwin’s comments.
“Coach Tab is a good friend of mine. We were together in Talk ’N Text, we were together sa Gilas noong nasa Spain kami when he was the consultant. I was under coach Tab when he coached Gilas noong 2016, 2017 ata,” Racela said after Adamson stunned National University 68-62 and stayed in the hunt for a semifinals berth.
“Nag-go-golf kami niyan. Coach Tab is a good friend of mine. I’m surprised, no? Hindi ko nabasa (Baldwin’s comments), pero with what you’re saying, I’m surprised that he made that statement.”
Turning anew to officiating, Racela said: “Refereeing is really hard, no, it’s very challenging. But as coaches, kami, we will do our part in reminding them and challenging them to perform at a high level.
Baldwin countered, saying it’s “shameful” to vent (one’s) ire on the referees.
“I think it’s shameful, I think you all know exactly what I mean, and I think we need to put it behind us and move forward as quickly as possible to get back to doing what is right for the game of basketball,” Baldwin said. “When anybody, anybody, does anything to the detriment of the sport, they are immediately my No. 1 enemy.
“This game has given every single one of us this sport way, way more than we have given back to it. I think it is shameful when people bring the game into disrepute, I’ll leave it at that.”
