PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said he will be contacting NCRPO chief Guillermo Eleazar for additional policemen.
“Kakausapin ko ‘yung Araneta, dagdagan ang security,” Marcial said. “Tatawagan ko rin si NCRPO general Eleazar kung puwedeng dagdagan ng pulis. Ngayon lang ‘to nangyari.”
Marcial said the league plans to file a case against the person later identified as Paolo Felizarta more so since he blindsided June Mar Fajardo, who was hit in the jaw.
“Nasa presinto na ‘yung tao. Pinapatanong ko sa legal namin kung anong klaseng kaso. Kakasuhan namin ‘yung tao,” said Marcial.
SMB coach Leo Austria hopes the league and venue security will be making steps to avoid such incident to happen again.
“I don’t know what’s the reason behind that. But that event should not happen in a very exciting game,” said Austria.
Austria said Fajardo was hurt on the incident as he was hit in the chin after colliding with the person’s head.
“It should not happen again especially on June Mar. Until now, medyo groggy siya. Imagine ang laki ni June Mar, inabot sa panga. Talagang for me, to hurt a player in the game especially June Mar, there is something wrong.”
Marcial said he spoke to Fajardo as well as the man in the Spiderman costume after he was taken at the hallway of the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The person was later brought to Station 7 of the Quezon City Police District.
“Tinanong ko si June Mar kung makakalaro siya, sabi naman ni June Mar, kaya ko pero medyo masakit lang. Kinausap ko siya dito, ayaw sabihin ‘yung pangalan. (Sabi ko) bakit mo ginawa ‘yun. Sabi niya, eleksyon lang. (Sabi ko) alam mo bang nakasakit ka kay June Mar, sabi niya, malabo ‘yung maskara, hindi ko nakita eh,” said Marcial.
Marcial said he couldn’t say whether the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Inaamoy ko, hindi ko rin masabi dahil maraming tao. Tinatanong ko pangalan niya, ayaw sabihin. Sorry daw at eleksyon lang po,” said Marcial.
Whatever his state, Austria criticized Felizarta for his way of making a statement.
“Sana sira ulo siya pero there is something wrong with his intention,” the SMB coach said.
Marcial said the man came from the lower box section, and made his way to the patron area before streaking on the court. Marcial spectulated the man wore the Spiderman costume in one of the comfort rooms of the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“Siyempre, makikita natin ‘yun. Siguradong nagbihis sa banyo ‘yun at may bag. Kapag palakad lakad, makikita naman natin ‘yun diba,” Marcial said.
Marcial, however, said generally, he is still satisfied with the security of the Big Dome, saying streaking incidents are not new in sports.
“Dati naman, okay naman diba. Nangyayari lang talaga ito kahit sa football at tennis. First time ‘to. Nanggaling daw siya sa lower box. Buti walang nasaktan sa mga player natin at okay siya at hindi rin siya nasaktan (man in Spiderman costume). Siguradong kakasuhan natin,” said Marcial.
With Magnolia having a chance to close the series out and end San Miguel's dynasty on Sunday's Game Six, Hotshots big man Ian Sangalang only has one thing in mind.
"Sana sa Linggo, wag na yung Avengers yung pumasok. Baka si Thanos, nandyan na sa loob," he said.
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