RJ Abarrientos botched his four-point try that could have forced overtime in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals between Ginebra and Meralco.
The PBA is already coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation regarding the death threats hurled towards Ginebra playmaker RJ Abarrientos.
League commissioner Willie Marcial bared this in a statement on Saturday, Feb. 8, less than 24 hours after Abarrientos sounded the alarm as he and his fiance, Arlove de Jesus, received threats from gamblers.
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The said users vented their ire on Abarrientos, whose four-point attempt in the dying seconds rimmed out in the Gin Kings' 104-108 loss to Meralco in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals.
RJ Abarrientos scores 12 points on a 5-for-15 shooting clip in Game 2 of the quarterfinal battle between the Ginebra Gin Kings and the Meralco Bolts in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Friday, Feb. 7. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Ginebra took Game 1, 100-92, last Wednesday, Feb. 5.
"Kino-ordinate na natin ito sa proper authority. In this case, sa NBI. Kinausap na nila si RJ tungkol dito," said Marcial.
"Nagkausap na rin kami ni RJ at nagka-usap na rin kami ng management ng Ginebra.”
Abarrientos posted the screenshots on Instagram hours after the said match, with one even threatening to shoot him and his partner inside the playing venue.
"Grabe talaga mga tao sa social media. Talo lang sa pusta, biglang death threats gamit dummy accounts, pati pamilya dinadamay pa. Paki-report! Nakakaalarma na 'yung ganitong ugali," Abarrientos wrote on his story.
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Marcial said he already saw the aforementioned messages and vowed to protect Abarrientos and other players who would experience harrassment of such nature.
"Nakita ko rin 'yung messages. Nasa akin na kaya nakipag-coordinate na rin tayo sa NBI," said the league chief.
"Pinoprotektahan din naman natin 'yung mga player natin sa ganiyang mga bagay."