Converge denounces 'assault' on Eboña, says findings reveal injury

The Converge FiberXers denounced the act of Allein Maliksi on Barkley Eboña late in their Friday game against the Meralco Bolts in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup.

In a statement on Saturday, the FiberXers described Maliksi's action as an "assault," saying that videos show Maliksi strangling Eboña after a foul in the final moments of the game.

"Medico-legal findings after the incident revealed that Eboña sustained 'soft tissue injury secondary to mauling," the team said.

Converge also said they are deeply concerned with what happened to their player and "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," the team added.

The team also said that it trusts the PBA management and board will be fair in the probe and handling the matter, and "Such ruffian behavior has no place in a basketball league."

Converge said it will move forward in the conference, "even more determined to close the elimination round strong."

"We will #NeverBackDown."

Meralco and Maliksi earlier issued apologies regarding the incident. The Bolts, in their own statement, said Maliksi did not apply pressure on Eboña's neck and held himself back from more action but apologized as "reacting to provocation does not reflect the culture we have built."

Maliksi was slapped with a one-game suspension and was fined P75,000 due to the incident. Eboña, meanwhile, was fined P5,000 and was given a warning.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News