They must protect the players, too.
Unruly hecklers are not exempted from punishments.
This is what PBA commissioner Willie Marcial implied following the incident where a fan hurled insults against TNT Tropang Giga Poy Erram’s mother in Game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Marcial said if a fan is caught making below-the-belt remarks, the league reserves the right to kick them out of the venue.
“Kakausapin muna namin na ‘wag ulitin, na ‘wag ganun. Kasi nasa ticket natin 'yun (na bawal). Ina-announce na natin mga do's and don'ts sa coliseum. Kapag inulit uli, malamang mapalabas sila ng coliseum,” said the amiable league official.
The challenge, however, is to identify fans who cross the line.
“Ginagawa natin, may disclaimer tayo for the game. Nasa likod ng ticket 'yun,” Marcial told News5.
“May umiikot din tayong mga tao para diyan. Sa dami ng tao, hindi rin natin maano kung saan mismo. Pero sinabihan namin 'yung mga players na kapag may nagmumura or what, sabihan lang kami para makausap namin ‘yung fan."
After the incident, Marcial said they already talked to Erram, whose team got his back amid this controversy.
“Kausap namin si Poy. (Sabi namin) pagpasensiyahan muna niya 'yung fans. Talagang ma-emosyon,” he said. “Nandito kami para tulungan ang players at pamilya nila sa mga ganung pagkakataon.”
Erram's TNT side and Ginebra are set to duke it out once more on Wednesday in an all-important Game 5, where emotions will surely be at fever pitch.