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Source: TJ Manotoc, abs-cbnnews.com

-- Burger King (BK) skipper Wynne Arboleda denied on Wednesday, during a lower House probe on the recent fan-mauling incident, that he was ordered by his coach to play dirty in the BK-Smart Gilas match-up last October 16.

Arboleda told the House committee on sports, games and amusements headed by Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing that BK coach Yeng Guio never gave any instruction to harm members of Smart Gilas.

“Wala pong utos ‘yung coach na saktan namin o tirahin [ang kalaban namin],” he said.

Arboleda, who was suspended without pay for the rest of the 2009-2010 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season, said what they did was merely to intimidate their competitors.

“As a player, intimidation lang ‘yung game namin kung ‘yun ang way na manalo kami,” he said.

This was echoed by BK team manager and concurrent PBA chairman Lito Alvarez, stressing that his coaching staff never encouraged dirty tactics.

He said the team only wanted to be aggressive and show Smart-Gilas how the game is played in the international scene.

Alvarez, however, admitted that he became concerned by the number of flagrant fouls committed by his players. He said this could have led to the suspension of most of his team members.

“I just called their attention [because] so many flagrant fouls were called and I do not want to lose additional players. It was just one game, I wanted the team intact for the rest of the season,” he said.

Guiao and PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios, who were also invited to attend the hearing, were not present during the inquiry, which stemmed from the fan-mauling incident involving Arboleda and his co-player Mark Yee.

Wednesday’s inquiry marked the first time Arboleda and his complainant Alain Katigbac met face-to-face since the mauling incident.

Katigbac admitted booing and cursing Arboleda for his alleged “dirty tactics” against the Smart-Gilas players. This reportedly infuriated the BK guard, who then attacked the complainant.

The incident prompted Katigbac to file a case of physical injuries against Arboleda and Yee before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Quezon City last week.

The episode also prompted the PBA management to suspend Arboleda until the end of the 2009-2010 season. He will reportedly lose about P2.7 million due to the suspension.

Bagatsing, meanwhile, questioned the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) for its lack of appropriate action over the incident.

“Since October 16, may nagawa na ba kayo, or at least man lang statement? Wala pa kaming nadidinig sa ahensyang dapat pinapasingawaan ang basketball,” he said while addressing the GAB representative present during the inquiry.

GAB said it is now in the process of creating a committee that will look into the incident.

Bagatsing then recommended the creation of a “code of conduct” for the GAB and PBA to protect the basketball fans and the players themselves.

“I strongly suggest you draft a code of conduct not just for players - but for all involved,” he said.