KELLY Nabong has personally reached out to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and sought the lowering of his fine and suspensions in the aftermath of the ‘Spiderman incident’ that marred Game Five of the Philippine Cup finals.
Nabong went at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday and spoke with Marcial during the second half of the Blackwater-Phoenix game.
“Pinuntahan niya ako sa Commissioner’s row and nagtanong kung puwede niya raw akong makausap,” said Marcial.
The commissioner knew right away what was coming.
“Nagsabi agad na kung puwede raw mababaan yung fine at suspension niya,” said Marcial.
Nabong was penalized P75,000 and suspended for three games after being caught hitting a man mistakenly identified as an accomplice of Paolo Felizarta, the guy who wore a Spiderman costume and run inside the court while Game Five of the finals between San Miguel and Magnolia was going on at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Also meted the same sanction was Nabong’s San Miguel teammate Ronald Tubid for punching Felizarta while he was being brought away from the court after colliding with San Miguel Beer star June Mar Fajardo.
Unlike Nabong, Tubid has yet to see Marcial personally, although in a talk with SPIN.ph last week, the veteran forward mentioned that he would like both the penalty and suspension be reduced by the Commissioner’s Office.
San Miguel has yet to see action this conference after winning the All-Filipino title a record fifth straight time following its dramatic Game 7 victory over Magnolia.