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| The PBA is now coordinating with the NBI to help RJ Abarrientos after he received a death threat. PBA Images (file photo) |
MANILA--The PBA and National Bureau of Investigation are now working together to help RJ Abarrientos stay safe after receiving a death threat following Ginebra's quarterfinal loss to Meralco on Friday night.
According to commissioner Willie Marcial, the NBI already reached out to Abarrientos on Saturday amid a death threat posted on the rookie point guard and fiance Arlove De Jesus' Instagram accounts.
"Kino-ordinate na natin ito sa proper authority, in this case sa NBI. Kinausap na nila si RJ tungkol dito," Marcial said.
A certain itsme.again.27 on Instagram threatened to gun Abarrientos down after claiming that he lost a bet following the Gin Kings' 104-108 defeat to the Bolts in Game 2 of their best-of-three series at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Abarrientos misfired a four-point attempt that could have forced overtime, and the sports bettor blamed him so much to the point of hurling such death threat.
Abarrientos took to Instagram stories his disgust that a basher would stoop that low only because the star PBA freshman missed a clutch shot that could have saved the bettor's ante for at least five more minutes.
Marcial said that he already obtained a screenshot of the death threat Abarrientos got.
"Nagka-usap kami ng management ng Ginebra. And nagka-usap rin kami ni RJ," he said, adding that the Ginebra management was alarmed upon finding out about the death threat.
"Nabasa ko na yung messages. Nasa akin na, kaya nakipag-coordinate na rin tayo sa NBI."
The NBI could begin the probe anytime from now.
Marcial also said that the PBA is ready to help other players who have received similar death threats.
"Pino-protektahan din naman natin yung mga player natin sa ganyang mga bagay," he further said.
Heightened security could be expected at the Ynares Center in Antipolo for the two Game 3s in the PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals on Sunday night following the death threat hurled at Abarrientos.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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