‘Sports Saksi’ Chino Trinidad passes away at 56

Longtime GMA Sports reporter Chino Trinidad passed over the weekend. He was 56.

In a report by GMA News Online, Trinidad’s daughter Floresse confirmed his passing through a text message, stating, “Yes, we are very sad to share the news of his passing last night, July 13, 2024.”

“Known to many through his storytelling, he never stopped sharing the greatness of Filipinos,” a separate message sent to the outlet reads. “He was a loving husband and a supportive father. He will truly be missed.”

A second-generation sports journalist, Trinidad began his career on DZRH’s Balitang Bayan Numero Uno in 1991. He later served as a sideline reporter from 1993 to 1995 on Vintage Television and transitioned to become a play-by-play commentator for basketball and boxing matches.

Eventually, at the request of the late Mike Enriquez, he joined DZBB, where he became a household name through his popular “Sports Saksi” segment. This opportunity led to his own nightly segment on 24 Oras called “Time Out.”

In 2011, during the launch of the now-defunct GMA News TV, Trinidad was also handpicked to host his own weekly sports show called Game!, initially on his own, and later with Christine Jacob-Sandejas,

As the face of Kapuso Network’s sports coverage for over two decades, he reported on numerous major sports stories both domestically and internationally, including the PBA games and the memorable bouts of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

In addition to his on-camera roles, Trinidad also founded the free-to-air television channel Pilipinas HD.