Eileen Shi has responded to recent allegations made by former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) courtside reporter Ira Pablo, who claimed she was fired from her position due to body shaming.
In a Facebook post on October 15, Pablo shared her frustrations, saying, “Ang saklap. Hindi ako nainform na requirement pala ang 25-inch waistline para mag cover sa PBA, akala ko sportscasting skills ang kailangan.” She went on to explain that she had kept this information to herself for two years but finally felt ready to share her experience.
According to Pablo, she was let go because she was perceived as “mataba” (fat). She recounted her excitement when she first got the opportunity to work as a PBA courtside reporter in 2022, after six years of experience in sports reporting. “It was a childhood dream come true,” she said.
In her post, Pablo also mentioned that another reporter was dismissed for what she believed to be trivial reasons. “Meron akong nabalitaan na napaginitan lang ng ulo eh tinanggalan ng trabaho,” she added. Despite the unfortunate experience, Pablo shared that she is now in a much better place, working a new job where she earns significantly more than she did as a courtside reporter.
However, Eileen Shi, a fellow PBA courtside reporter, has called out Pablo’s claims, labeling them as false. In her response, Shi firmly denied that Pablo’s weight was the reason for her dismissal. “Mga Basketball Fans, nagsisinungaling si Ira Pablo. Hindi pagiging mataba ang dahilan kung bakit inalis si Ira Pablo sa PBA,” Shi wrote.
Shi then revealed what she claims to be the real reason behind Pablo’s termination, saying, “Ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit inalis si Ira Pablo sa PBA ay dahil noong nag-away kami ni Ira Pablo noong nasa PBA pa siya, ay dahil binugbog niya ako, minura niya ako, pinagbantaan din ako ni Ira Pablo na papatayin niya ako.” She also stated that she reported Pablo’s behavior to Manny V. Pangilinan, the owner of TV5, which led to Pablo’s firing.
Shi further compared Pablo to controversial basketball player John Amores, adding that she is considering filing a case against Pablo for her actions during their time together in the PBA. “May balak na din akong sampahan ng kaso si Ira Pablo dahil sa mga kasamaang ginawa niya sakin noong nasa PBA pa siya at para mabulok narin habangbuhay si Ira Pablo sa kulungan,” Shi stated.
Shi, who remains a courtside reporter for the PBA, expressed relief that she still holds her position.