PHILIPPINE Basketball Association (PBA) player Wynne Arboleda faced Smart-Gilas fan Alain Katigbak in a preliminary hearing in Congress Wednesday afternoon pertaining to the assault on Katigbak.

Manila Representative Amado Bagatsing, chairman of the House committee on games and amusements, headed the investigation.

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Lawyer Melvin Mendoza represented the PBA, Angelito Alvarez for Burger King (BK), Noli Eala for Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas, coach Rajko Toroman for Smart-Gilas, Rene Cayetano for Araneta Coliseum, and lawyer Felomino Mongan for Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

Bagatsing said the committee looked into the basketball brawl because of the concern of the public and the alleged gravity of the offense.

"A PBA player is a so-called professional, respected, looked up to... How can we in congress allow this image?...Later on at the proper time, we hope to come up with a proper legislation if needed," said Bagatsing.

Both Arboleda and Katigbak were given a chance to narrate their side of the story.

Katigbak, in his prepared speech, said he is under trauma because of the assault that occurred October 16 in a match between BK and Smart-Gilas.

The basketball fan cried in some parts of his speech as he described the scene.

Katigbak said he joined other fans in booing Arboleda in the second quarter after the cager hit JV Casio.

He shouted: "Arboleda, matanda ka na. Hindi mo na kayang habulin si Casio! (Arboleda, you're old. You can't keep up with Casio!).

When Arboleda committed a flagrant foul for throwing an elbow to Casio, Katigbak shouted "Huwag mo pilayan, mga pang international team natin yan! (Don't injure them, they are players for our international team!).

Arboleda again was called for another flagrant foul. After that, the very controversial assault took place.

Katigbak also shared that only he is experiencing trauma, but more so his family.

He said his parents, now in their critical age, are under high blood pressure and his wife is also affected as she is having a delicate six-month pregnancy.

"I even fear to go out or watch a basketball game," added Katigbak.

Apologies were not exchanged from both sides in the hearing.

Arboleda meanwhile kept quiet most of the time as he has already issued a public apology right after the incident and has taken full responsibility for his actions.

GAB, PBA actions

The committee threw questions at the GAB and PBA for lacking proper measures to prevent situations like what happened in the case of Arboleda and Katigbak.

Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga grilled the GAB body for issuing a statement on the statement. He said that under the law, it is one of the responsibilities of GAB to monitor the conduct of athletes.

Lawyer Mongan said they have already formed a committee to investigate the issue but admitted that their organization failed to act on the matter immediately.

Congressmen also asked the PBA if they implement a code of conduct for their players.

Lawyer Mendoza, who is representing commissioner Renauld Barrios, said "there is a code of conduct for all stakeholders in the PBA" but this is not regularly communicated with the persons involved assuming that the players are already aware of it.

"This code of conduct or how the players should behave on and off the court, they are specifically indicated in their contract," clarified Mendoza.

Mendoza was asked by the committee to submit a copy of the contract that includes the code of conduct.

Coach's responsibility

The committee also asked why BK coach Yeng Guiao was not present in the hearing saying that coaches have a bearing on the behavior of their players.

Guiao, according to courtside reporter Hizon, told his players to "put them (Smart-Gilas players) in their place" but was quick to clarify that what Guiao simply meant was that BK should make their opponents feel that they are the professionals and the Smart-Gilas players are amateurs.

Arboleda admitted that they do feel pressure in PBA games.

"Usually, very pressured kami kasi siyempre ayaw namim matalo (Usually, we feel very pressured because, of course, we don't want to lose," said Arboleda.

SBP Executive Director Noli Eala also expressed his dismay for what happened but also thinks that Arboleda could have been spared if the referees did something earlier in the game when Arboleda was called for two flagrant fouls.

Safety of fans

The issue on the lack of security personnel was also raised in the hearing.

Representatives from the Araneta Coliseum, the venue for the game, said that they have already added people who will provide security inside the playing venue after the incident.

Mendoza also made clear that they have security personnel for their players and those personnel were present during the incident as seen in the recorded video.

Representative Roberto Puno meanwhile defended the PBA, saying that securing players and fans is a "tough job" for the association.

"There have been always people to provide security," said Puno, who used to work for the PBA.

He added that the group even provides free entrance to police officers who wish to watch the games.

PBA chairman Alvarez said their organization has already implemented proper measures after the "eye-opener" Arboleda case.

"Measures have been taken to inform the fans of their responsibility as soon as they enter the venue," said Alvarez.

For his part, Smart-Gilas coach Toroman said that he thinks that Filipino fans are the most aggressive basketball fans he has seen in his entire coaching career.

Toroman said they did not expect the brawl to happen especially that it was their first time to participate in the PBA. "We just want to play basketball."

The coach also described the incident as an "unusual situation" as players are the one who are usually protected from the fans and not the other way around.

PBA on Arboleda, Yee

The PBA has already handed down a decision last October 19 on Arboleda's case that led in the player's suspension for the rest of the 2009-2010 season.

The veteran player will lose P2.73 million income for his suspension.

In the decision letter sent to Arboleda, PBA commissioner Renauld Barrios said: "As we pointed out to you, even granting that said fan was foul-mouthed and verbally abusive as confirmed by reports to us, there is a "line" that a PBA player cannot and should not cross: to physically harm a fan."

In the hearing Wednesday, Arboleda shared that the suspension is a bit heavy on him since his family would also be affected.

"Mabigat sa skin dahil may pamilya din ako. Kung anong blessing ang darating sa akin, tatangapin ko," said Arboleda.

But Katigbak did not settle for Arboleda's suspension and insisted that the BK player should be banished from the league. Katigbak also included Arboleda's teammate Mark Yee in his complaint for allegedly hitting him with his knees.

The PBA said it is also conducting an investigation of Yee's case. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)