Commissioner assures PBA will take action against below-the-belt heckling

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–PBA commissioner Willie Marcial assured that the league is constantly taking action against fans making rude comments on players in the light of the incident involving TNT’s Poy Erram during Game 3 of the Governors’ Cup Finals.

Marcial said the league is aware of Erram’s frustration over a heckler who hurled insults about his mother in the latter stages of the Tropang Giga’s 117-103 loss on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“The players can let us know so that we can approach those fans and tell them to stop,” Marcial told the Inquirer in Filipino on Saturday as he plans to talk to Erram about the matter.

Erram obviously didn’t take the fan’s comments kindly and has asked the league to take further steps to protect the players from similar situations.

TNT center Poy Erram lets out his frustration on fans who shouted "below the belt" remarks at him during Game 3 of the PBA Governors' Cup Finals. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/2K08jOGfei

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 14, 2023

An emotional Erram didn’t mince words over what he felt were “below the belt” comments since his mother had recently recovered from a stroke in the United States.

The top league official said guidelines against unruly behavior have been in place since there had been cases that were more severe in the past.

“We always put out a disclaimer before the games and it is indicated in the tickets that fans can be escorted out,” said Marcial.

Nonetheless, Marcial has pleaded for calm as tensions are expected to go higher in the championship series.

“I know that emotions are running high [in the Finals], but I’m asking our fans if they can calm down and avoid throwing insults at our players,” he said.