MANILA, Philippines - The Mandaluyong Police are eyeing robbery as possible motive in the shooting and wounding of Talk n Text center Ali Peek at the parking lot of the RFM Gym in Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City Monday night.
Police Officer 2 (PO2) Donald Banez said Peek told police that the unidentified gunman emerged from behind and pointed his gun on his nape. He added that the suspect fired his gun when the PBA cager tried to look back.
The police also released the suspect’s computerized facial description yesterday.
The witnesses also told probers that they had seen the suspect, said to be 5-5 to 5-6 tall, about 32-35 years old and medium built, roaming inside the RFM gym prior to the incident.
Florentino Ramos, a witness, also told police that he was with two other friends a few steps away from the parking lot when they heard the shot.
“I told my friends that I think it was Ali Peek who was shot. We immediately came back, boarded him into his car and rushed him to the hospital. Blood was spilling from his nape,” Ramos told probers.
Peek is now in stable condition but has to decide whether or not undergo a procedure to remove the bullet lodged at the base of his skull.
“Ali and his mother have to make a decision on whether to have it surgically removed or leave it there, because it’s going to be quite difficult to remove it,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes as advised by the doctors attending his player at the Medical City in Pasig.
Peek, the 6-foot-4 Talk n Text second-string center who made the PBA Mythical Second Team last season, was shot at around 7:30 p.m. after coming from a plyometric training session.
The police have released a composite sketch of the suspect while Talk n Text team owner Manny V. Pangilinan has put up a P500,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrator.
Witnesses described the suspect as a “chinito,” standing 5’5” to 5’6” and about 32 to 36 years old.
Talk n Text team manager Aboy Castro said Peek is in stable condition.
The Talk n Text mentor, meanwhile, said Peek is in a state of “semi-shock.”
“He’s a very strong person, but obviously these things have a way of getting to you,” said Reyes in an interview by ANC.
“He’s in a state of what I might call semi-shock. The enormity of what happened is just starting to sink in,” Reyes added.
Reyes said they were informed by doctors that there is no immediate need to perform surgery as long as there was no swelling around the injured area.
The Talk n Text team heard a Mass for their teammate yesterday before going to practice.
“We request everyone to continue praying for Ali’s speedy recovery,” said Castro.
Meanwhile, TnT, crippled by injuries to key players, goes up against Powerade at resumption of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Petron Blaze, at 4-3, and Shopinas.com, winless in seven starts, play in the other game at 5:15 p.m.
Barako Bull, stopped on its tracks by erstwhile winless Alaska Milk the last time out, vented its ire on Powerade, 117-78, Sunday.
The Energy took to heart their 72-93 blowout to the Aces, dishing out a superb performance that netted the Lina Group franchise its most lopsided victory ever.