FORMER veteran sports broadcaster and PBL commissioner Manolo “Chino” Trinidad passed away last Saturday. He was 56.
Trinidad died of a heart attack while on the way to a meeting with billiards great Efren “Bata” Reyes and other sports personalities at a hotel in Pasay City, his daughter, Floresse Trinidad, informed GMA News online in a text message yesterday in a story posted on the website.
Trinidad was a TV reporter of GMA News until 2023.
Trinidad, the eldest son of former Inquirer sports columnist Recah Trinidad and sports photographer Fe Lacsamana-Trinidad, was described by his children as “a passionate member of the media and sports community.
“Known to many through his storytelling, he never stopped sharing the greatness of Filipinos,” they said.
Tributes from former colleagues and sports stars with whom he had rubbed elbows with started pouring in on social media once the sad news broke about Trinidad’s death.
“Rest in peace, Chino, condolences to the family,” Philippine Sports Commission chief Robert Bachmann posted on his FB page with pictures of him together with the sportscaster, including one in his PSC office.
Trinidad was a starting in the sports broadcasting industry when Bachmann played for the disbanded Alaska Aces.
“I am beyond broken-hearted at the loss of Manolo Chino Trinidad, my brother, colleague, friend. A fighter, patriot, truth-seeker. There will never be another like you. I love you,” noted fellow sportscaster Bill Velasco, who has also suffered a life-threatening heart ailment.
Velasco and Trinidad worked together with the defunct Vintage Enterprises, which used to hold the broadcast rights to the Philippine Basketball Association.
Former four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez also paid a glowing tribute to the broadcast journalist on his FB account.
