MANILA, Philippines – Ipinakita ni PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa ang kanyang awtoridad nang pagsabihan si Barangay Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua dahil sa paghithit ng e-cigarette habang nasa bench sa laro ng Gin Kings laban sa Blackwater Elite noong Disyembre 5 sa Angeles, Pampanga.
“I advised him. Sabi ko sa kanya, alam mo Alfrancis, you, being a team governor, there are going to be a lot of implications. I guess you know that,” wika ni Narvasa. “Yung paninigarilyo, they think of it as detrimental talaga. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘I hope that you can stop it during games.’”
Kumalat sa social media ang video ni Chua na humihithit ng e-cigarette sa bench ng Ginebra.
Ayon kay Narvasa, tila maamong tupa na humingi sa kanya ng paumanhin si Chua nang magkausap sila noong nakaraang Lunes.
“He was very, profusely apologetic. Sabi niya, ‘comm, alam kong mali ako. Sorry talaga hindi na mauulit.’ Sabi ko sa kanya, as far as the PBA, I don’t think there is a rule that says something like that,” wika ni Narvasa kay Chua.
“But next time, it’s going to be called under improper bench decorum so you can get a technical and we can ask you to leave. Sabi niya ‘comm, don’t worry, hindi na mauulit yan, I’m very sorry.’”
Idinagdag ng PBA Commissioner na hindi kinukunsinte ng liga angpaghithit ng e-cigarette ng mga team officials at players sa laro.
“Any infraction of any player, they come in, we fine them, it’s over. Rest assured we are responsible people in this association. In the 41 years, hindi pababayaan ng Board yan,” sabi ni Narvasa.
Iginiit pa ni Narvasa na ang mga team officials at players ay nagsisilbing role models sa mga manonood kaya dapat lamang na maging maayos ang kanilang mga gagawin sa loob at labas ng court.