CHICAGO - More than 24 hours after the eye-poking incident at the Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex, it's safe to assume that PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has seen the videos of the play.
And given that Rain or Shine import Aaron Fuller almost lost an eye after being pierced by an errant finger from Ian Sangalang of Magnolia, you'd think Kume Marcial would, at the very least, look into it.
"None. No reaction whatsoever," RoS coach Yeng Guiao told me, adding that "it's their duty to protect the players."
So, yeah, nothing from the high towers of the league office, "not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse," to quote a line from the poem "A Night Before Christmas."
But why?
LEFT IN THE DARK.
Like a politician praying for bad news to be washed away by a fresh news cycle, I think Marcial is hoping that Guiao would be too occupied with the import calamity he is dealing with to notice the PBA's indifference.
This is not a situation where silence is golden.
Guiao has publicly pleaded for a review and he believes that Sangalang's fingered invasion of Fuller's left cornea was intentional. Those grievances need to be heard.
READ: Fuller doubtful for Game 3 after getting eye poked by Sangalang
Instead of turning a blind eye, pun intended, the PBA can do a lot of good in addressing it.
Right now, the majority of SPIN.ph readers who post comments on our social media platforms are inclined to believe that Sanglang, who has no prior history of dirty play, purposely poked Fuller's eye.
WHAT'S THE HARM IN LETTING SANGALANG SPEAK HIS TRUTH?
Also, reviewing the play and seeing if a flagrant foul can be upgraded, placates the feelings of Rain or Shine. It may be a small consolation for a team whose championship promise this conference has suddenly been torpedoed, but it's the thought that matters.
Instead, the PBA chose only to flex its cold shoulders. And this laconic, "nothing to see here" approach is not going to burnish a depleted fan base.
If Fuller were a Magnolia player and Sangalang wore an Elasto Painters jersey, would I be a fool to believe that Marcial will act on the matter quicker than a heart attack?
Meanwhile, Fuller remains in bad shape,
Pained. Swollen. His left eye, blood red like ketchup and his balance in shambles as he recovers from a corneal tear.
Life isn't fair. Just like, it seems, the PBA's view on independent teams.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
