PBA to craft stringent measures: Fan wants life ban on Arboleda

MANILA, Philippines - Alain Katigbac, the PBA fan beaten by Burger King guard Wynne Arboleda, wants his attacker banned for life from the PBA and other cage leagues.

Katigbac, through his lawyer Jose Angelo Agcaoili, has drafted an administrative complaint addressed to PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios recommending Arboleda’s lifetime suspension.

Agcaoili has also prepared criminal charges and damage suit to be filed against Arboleda.

“This incident should be severely dealt with. Otherwise, Wynne Arboleda and players with similar inclinations will never learn the meaning and correct definition of ‘sportsmanship,’” said Agcaoili.

This developed as the Philippine Basketball Association is now looking into crafting security measures that would prevent repetition of the sorry incident.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said they will institute protocol geared towards responsible fan behavior and game watching.

Agcaoili said his client is still in mental anguish and in shock as a result of Arboleda’s vicious attack.

“His parents, who are both in their senior years, had elevated blood pressure after seeing the incident. His wife, who is six months pregnant, shook violently after seeing the incident on television and on the internet and continues to have chills as a result,” Agcaoili said.

“His family is still in total shock and in complete fear and indignation over how a professional basketball player in the country’s premiere league can behave in a manner as Wynne Arboleda did,” Agcaoili added.

Arboleda, however, said he’s ready to face Katigbac in court.

The hard-nosed BK player said they will file counter-charge against Katigbac.

“I lost my source of livelihood because of him. I will not allow him to totally destroy me,” Arboleda told The STAR.

Arboleda said he was provoked in committing the act.

“He cursed me no end in front of my family,” said Arboleda, who was suspended for the rest of the season without pay.

Last season, Marlou Aquino, Danny Ildefonso and Marc Pingris were meted penalty as they also figured in a fight with fans. The three were restrained before getting to the fan.

“I’d like to look at the positive side out of this ugly incident. We’ll undertake program on responsible game watching. It’s about respecting each other and conducting ourselves in the highest integrity,” said Barrios.

“We’ll sit down with the Araneta Coliseum management to craft arrangements not only on security but protocol on fan behavior. Among the players, I doubt if someone else would do something like this with the severe penalty (imposed on Arboleda),” Barrios added.

The proposed measures are likely to be presented to the PBA board of governors as it holds its regular meeting for the month of October tomorrow.

Barrios admitted there’s a lapse in security in that particular Friday incident.

“Maybe what we can do is make house rules like alerting security personnel of unruly behavior of fans. They should be restrained and if they don’t stop, they would be asked to leave,” said Barrios.

On Arboleda’s plan to appeal his long suspension, Barrios said it’s within his rights.

“I can’t deny him that. We just have to wait if he pursues it and how he will present his appeal. I don’t want to prejudge him,” Barrios said.

The league commissioner, however, stressed he studied the matter thoroughly before making the verdict.

“I’d like to assure everyone we arrived at the decision not in a very cavalier or whimsical way,” he said.