Chino Trinidad

Manolo "Chino" Lacsamana Trinidad (July 23, 1967 – July 13, 2024) was a Filipino sports journalist and executive who formerly served as a play-by-play commentator in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coverage by Vintage Television.

Career

Sportscasting Trinidad started in Balitang Bayan Numero Uno'''s Sports Ngayon segment from 1991 to 1998 in DZRH. He started a sideline reporter from 1993 to 1995, on Vintage Television's PBA coverage. He later worked as a play-by-play commentator not only on basketball games, but also on boxing games, like Blow-by-Blow''. He also worked as a sports reporter on GMA News.

In 2007, he served as a play-by-play in RPN's coverage of 2007 FIBA Asia Championship.

Sports management He also served as the commissioner of Philippine Basketball League starting in 2000, replacing Yeng Guiao, his notable color commentator partner in PBA coverages. He resigned in 2010. He was one of the personalities who pushed for the rights of SBP as the Philippine basketball federation and fight against the failures of its predecessor, the Basketball Association of the Philippines.

He was later a candidate in the positions like basketball commissioner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2014, and Chairman of Games and Amusement Board (GAB).

In May 2024, Trinidad was appointed the commissioner of its first professional pool league in the Philippines, the Sharks Billiards Association. He was also an adviser of the Pilipinas Super League.

Others After resigning in GMA, Trinidad focused on his founded cable TV channel named Pilipinas HD.

In 2014, he led "Pagpupugay", a tribute to Filipino sports heroes. That tribute got minor citation from the PSA Annual Awards in 2015.

He criticized Chot Reyes and the SBP for mishandling the team in 2023 FIBA World Cup.

On the night of 13 July 2024, Trinidad died from a heart attack at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay at the age of 56 (ten days short of his 57th birthday). Trinidad was on his way to the Newport World Resorts to meet with people including pool player Efren Reyes.

Trinidad's funeral service was held on 15 July, following his cremation five days later.

Appearances