MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATED) Tab Baldwin has been removed from his post as an assistant coach with the TNT KaTropa, the team confirmed on Thursday.
TNT team manager Gabby Cui told ABS-CBN News that Baldwin "will be focusing on his coaching chores in Ateneo and his role in SBP." TNT team governor Ricky Vargas also confirmed the development.
Baldwin has steered the Blue Eagles to three straight UAAP men's basketball titles, and is also the program director of the Philippine national team for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Cui maintained that the decision to drop Baldwin from the TNT coaching staff was made even before the lockdown brought about by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Vargas also told ABS-CBN News that the decision was "not at all" made in light of Baldwin's recent controversial comments. "This decision was made even before the lockdown," he said.
"The team is adapting well to the system of coach Bong Ravena and team consultant Mark Dickel," Cui said.
"We would like to thank Coach Tab and wish him well," he added.
Baldwin recently came under fire for his comments made during the "Coaches Unfiltered" podcast, where he criticized the PBA's single-import conferences. He said that because of this format, local coaches run their systems through the imports.
The PBA penalized Baldwin for comments that they deemed "detrimental to the league," fining him P75,000 and banning him for three games.
Several local basketball personalities, including San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua and NorthPort team owner Mikee Romero, expressed their anger at Baldwin for his sentiments.
The American-Kiwi coach has since apologized for his comments, and also turned down offers from Ateneans who offered to pay his fine.
(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).