Philippine sports lost a legend in broadcaster and former PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad.
MANILA—The Filipino sports community woke up to sad news on Sunday after the passing of Chino Trinidad was confirmed.
Trinidad, a veteran sportscaster since the ’90s, succumbed to a heart attack at age 56.
“Known to many through his storytelling, he never stopped sharing the greatness of Filipinos,” his family said in a statement.
Trinidad began his career as a member of the PBA’s radio broadcasting crew.
He eventually moved to the television team, where he became more popular and respected while sharing memorable stories about Filipino athletes.
Veterans and even some younger generation reporters in the sports media industry quickly expressed their farewells and tributes to Trinidad.
“Chino Trinidad [is] a visionary leader, fighter, and genuine lover of sports. [I’m] forever grateful to you, my ‘kum’ and everybody’s commissioner,” added Tempo sports editor and former Philippine Sportswriters Association president Rey Lachica.
Aside from his sports broadcasting chores on radio and television, Trinidad, the son of sports media legend Recah, also served as the commissioner of the PBL during the 2000s, eventually becoming the developmental league’s last chieftain before it was dissolved.
“Comm Chino” was among the founding members of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas when it took over the Basketball Association of the Philippines as the country’s official national sports association for basketball in 2008.
Trinidad eventually juggled his chores with the PBL and SBP while also doing sports reporting for GMA News.
After leaving GMA, Trinidad was tapped to be a consultant for the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, but his stint in the professional league was short-lived.
He was then tapped to host “Larong Pilipino” on DZME along with Erel Cabatbat, which would now turn out to be his last job in sports media before his passing.
Trinidad was also considered to replace Baham Mitra as Games and Amusements Board chairman before the post eventually went to Richard Clarin.