STATEMENT FROM THE CONVERGE FIBERXERS ON THE MAULING OF ONE OF ITS PLAYERS

4 March 2023

The Converge FiberXers denounce the assault on one of our players during the game against the Meralco Bolts yesterday, March 3, 2023.

Actual videos of the incident clearly showed that Meralco Bolts player Allein Maliksi tried to strangle our power forward/center Barkley Ebona following a duty foul at the last seconds of the overtime period of the game.

Medico-legal findings after the incident revealed that Ebona sustained “soft tissue injury secondary to mauling”.

Converge joined the PBA with the intention of building a track record of discipline, competitiveness, and sportsmanship that Filipino basketball fans love. And we have carried these values in every game that we played including yesterday’s game.

Thus, we are deeply concerned that such an incident happened yesterday where one of our players was put in danger by another player. We also take exception to the statements that the Converge team had an intention to harm other players in the court. Our previous games, whether win or lose, will show that our players have always played fair and displayed honorable sportsmanship.

We trust that the PBA Management and Board will be fair and just in its investigation and handling of this matter. Such ruffian behavior has no place in a professional basketball league.

We thank our fans for their concern on Ebona and their continuing loving support to the Converge FiberXers. We will move forward with our vigorous campaign in the PBA Commissioners’ Cup. We are even more determined to close the elimination stage strong. We will #NeverBackDown.