PBA forgives ‘Spider-Man’
THE Philippine Basketball Association ( PBA) will no longer pursue the unjust vexation and alarm and scandal cases that it had filed against “Spider- Man.”
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial on Friday said he already talked with Paolo Felizarta, aka Spider-Man, who ran to the middle of the court during Game 5 of the best- of-seven Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel Beer and Magnolia on May 10 at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Kung bakit ko pinatawad? Pinuntahan ako ni Spider-Man at sumulat siya ng letter sa atin nakita namin talaga na sincere at, ayun nga, humingi ng tawad sa nangyari so, tayo naman pinayagan at pinagbigyan natin ( Why did we forgive him? He went to my office and wrote a letter. So, when we saw his sincerity after asking for forgiveness for what happened, we agreed and we forgave him),” Marcial told The Manila Times in an interview at the PBA office on Thursday.
He invited the 31-year- old Felizarta of Imus, Cavite to attend the league’s corporate social responsibility activities and wear his Spider-Man costume.
“Pumayag naman siya para matuwa ‘yung mga bata (He agreed with it so the children will be happy),” Marcial said.
Felizarta accidentally bumped June Mar
Fajardo as he stormed the court in the fourth quarter of the game.
He was mobbed by San Miguel Beer players Ronald Tubid, Kelly Nabong and assistant Danbee Henare and restrained by venue officials during the incident.
The PBA slapped fines and suspensions, though, on the players and the team official involved.
Felizarta was jailed for four days at the Quezon City Police District Station 7 before posting bail days later.
He said he just wanted to “spread love” as part of his advocacies.