PBA set to file charges against ‘Spiderman’ disruptor

FILE: “Spidee’s messages!” (Photo: Vince Hizon/Facebook)

Game Five of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup best-of-seven finals series took an odd turn last Friday, May 10 after a man named Paolo Felizarta, dressed as Marvel superhero Spiderman, rushed onto the court of the Smart Araneta Coliseum at the 3:06 minute mark in the fourth quarter between the San Miguel Beermen (SMB) and Magnolia Hotshots.

Chaos erupted when 31-year-old Felizarta from Imus, Cavite crashed into the league’s Best Player of the Conference (BPC) June Mar Fajardo, causing the big man to fall to the ground and hold his face. Felizarta held up a sign that said “Vote! Love!” as Fajardo’s teammates Christian Standhardinger and Chris Ross bump the masked man as he tried to rush backstage, but the security personnel were able to get a hold within the next 10 seconds. SMB player Ronald Tubid followed backstage and took a punch at the costumed spectator.

Immediately, commotion ensued at The Big Dome’s dugout as the media questioned Felizarta, who persisted to keep his unmasked face from being seen. In Filipino, he explained, “I just want to send a message because it’s the elections,” referring to the 2019 Philippine General Elections happening on May 13, “I just want everyone to love each other.” Felizarta continued, “My message is love so why would I hurt [Fajardo]? He was the one who bumped me.”

Suffering a jaw injury after the collision, Fajardo told the press after the game, “Nobody was expecting that to happen. Maybe he just wants to get noticed but he did it the wrong way. I hope he’s okay, maybe he did not mean it. To the fans, do not copy what he did. I hope this will not happen again because it’s dangerous.”

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed that the sports organization will press charges against Felizarta, explaining, “I’m still asking our legal team what kind of case, but for sure, we will file a case.”