Wynne Arboleda of Burger King punches a spectator during the second quarter of the Whoppers’ game against Smart Gilas in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum. (Photo by MARK BALMORES)

Game on Saturday
(Panabo, Davao del Norte)
5 p.m. — San Miguel vs Alaska
—————
Games on Sunday
(Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Barako Bull vs Coca-Cola
6:30 p.m. — Purefoods vs Ginebra

Burger King forced debuting Smart-Gilas Team Pilipinas to ingest a heavy dose of physicality in the 35th KFC-PBA Philippine Cup on Friday, hammering out a 115-105 victory in a game where Whoppers point guard Wynne Arboleda may have crossed the line between tough-as-nails demeanor and violent street behavior.

Arboleda, a consistent all-defensive standout, went after a boisterous fan seated at special ringside six minutes into the second quarter with Gilas ahead 42-37, pummeling the spectator before Araneta Coliseum security personnel pulled the enraged Burger King player away.

Witnesses said the fan, a certain Alain Katigbak and reportedly a friend of Gilas’ Chris Tiu, had been directing profanities at Arboleda and the Whoppers from the onset, apparently triggering the assault.

The incident occurred after Arboleda was called with a Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 (F1) – his second in the game – when he sent a driving Mac Baracael crashing to the floor.

A verbal exchange ensued, said photographers close by, before Arboleda struck, holding the cowering fan in a headlock and raining him down with blows.

Arboleda, who faces heavy fines and suspensions and has been summoned to the Commissioner’s Office Monday, explained that he charged at Katigbak, a businessman, because of the invectives he had been hurling at him and his teammates throughout the game.

Escorted by security personnel on his way out of the venue, Katigbak flicked Arboleda a middle finger several times.

A venue security official said Katigbak went to the Central Police District (CPD) to file a complaint.

Burger King coach Yeng Guiao said the incident caught him by surprise.

“I didn’t know what really happened,” Guiao said. “That guy (the players said) started to curse them. I don’t think that’s an excuse, I don’t know what will happen to Wynne. It’s unfortunate.”

The assault on the fan came on the heels of two other such incidents.

In the last Fiesta Cup, Sta. Lucia’s Marlou Aquino and San Miguel’s Danny Ildefonso were fined and suspended for charging at unruly spectators.

The game saw four F1s called on Burger King in the first period, one each on rookie Ronnie Matias and Gary David and two on Arboleda, which resulted into his ejection.

In the second game, Sta. Lucia Realty thumped Coca-Cola, 95-76.

The scores:
BURGER KING 115 — Buenafe 25, David 24, Belga 17, Lanete 14, M. Yee 11, Quinahan 9, R. Yee 7, Aban 5, Sharma 2, Matias 1, Billones 0, Arboleda 0.
SMART-GILAS 105 — Casio 28, Tiu 21, Aguilar 18, Barracael 14, Giles 12, Ballesteros 4, Barroca 4, Al Husseini 2, Ababou 2, Cawaling 0, Ramos 0.
Quarters: 27-29, 54-55, 85-82, 115-105.

Second Game
STA. LUCIA 95 — Reyes 21, Espinas 14, Yeo 14, Williams 14, Daa 13, Omolon 5, Aquino 4, Larong 3, Pacana 3, Urbiztondo 2, Misolas 2, Jaime 0.
COCA-COLA 76 — Cabagnot 18, Taulava 11, Rodriguez 8, Espino 8, Ross 6, Rizada 5, w. Gonzales 5, Bono 4, Catli 4, Calimag 4, n. Gonzales 3, Cruz 0.
Quarters: 24-22, 50-41, 78-56, 95-76.