MANILA, Philippines -- PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa explained his side after being the subject of ridicule on social media following his on-court role in the altercation that marred the Alaska Aces' 100-76 bounce back win in Game Two of their semifinal showdown on Wednesday night in the 2015-16 Smart Bro-PBA Philippine Cup.
THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD NEVER BE BIASED, VIOLENT & SHOULD NEVER OVERSTEP HIS DUTIES. NARVASA, YOU HAVE REFS & A TECH COMMITTEE.
— Squarescape (@squarescape_ca) January 6, 2016 Technical foul on CHITO NARVASA for entering the court!
— jemae neutron (@jemae31) January 6, 2016 Narvasa just pointed & shouted at Hontiveros like a master does to his dog during d commotion. I've never seen a commissioner do that ever.
— PBA insider (@PBAinsider) January 6, 2016 PBA Comm Chito #narvasa should resign, never ever disrespect a player in front of d audience. U need to learn how to be ethical. Bulok pba!
— Cathy (@cathyb_18) January 6, 2016 Chito Narvasa is the guy version of Dionisia with that duro duro on the floor.
— Daps (@dapsmanized) January 6, 2016
Television replays saw Narvasa pointing his finger at Alaska veteran guard Dondon Hontiveros and then motioned him to go away during the height of the melee.
A total of 16 technical fouls were called, including 13 in that sequence alone in the closing moments of the opening quarter. It was the most since a 1997 Governors' Cup out-of-town game between Shell, who was then coached by Narvasa and curiously, against Alaska, which they won 91-87.
Narvasa said he entered the court and tried to pacified Hontiveros, who was insisting to approach GlobalPort forward Jay Washington, who shoved him down in the melee that was triggered by Calvin Abueva's bumped on Anthony Semerad that sent him back to the floor.
"I always do that when I was also a commissioner in the NCAA saka UAAP. Anytime there's a fight, you have to stop it. So, if they see me siguro baka sa isip-isip nila, uy di na ako... baka ma-suspend ako, ma-fine ako. That's the whole idea," Narvasa said after the game.
The new league commissioner does not want any casualty that might destroy the beauty of the series between the Batang Pier and the Aces.
"It's prevention. Siyempre magkakasakitan, imagine, I will have to suspend people pa. Mabuti na yan, matigil agad yan and they can continue playing na kumpleto ang lineup," Narvasa quickly added.
Hontiveros and Alaska head coach Alex Compton later met with Narvasa to sort out what really happened.