Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang, middle, and Paul Lee, left, during a game against NLEX in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–The PBA beefed up its security following Friday’s Philippine Cup doubleheader at Ninoy Aquino Stadium after three Magnolia players received death threats online.
William Navarro was seen being escorted out of the venue by in-house bouncers into an awaiting car moments after the Hotshots’ 107-99 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors when a netizen made serious threats in the comments section of one of his Instagram posts.
READ: PBA: NLEX claims first twice-to-beat, rallies past Magnolia
Magnolia’s William Navarro, Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee were escorted out of Ninoy Aquino Stadium by security after receiving online death threats in the Hotshots’ 107-99 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors at Ninoy Aquino Stadium @INQUIRERSports
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) June 6, 2025
Ian Sangalang and Paul Lee were also recipients of threats from the same account, and eyewitnesses said that two got the same security arrangements as Navarro.
In one of the user’s comments, he threatened to kill one player and his family after claiming to have lost a ton of money in a bet.
It’s unsure how serious the threats were, but PBA officials and the Hotshots were quick to take necessary precautions and make sure that Navarro, Lee and Sangalang were well taken care of.
READ: PBA reaches out to NBI after RJ Abarrientos death threats
Magnolia suffered another defeat after blowing a 19-point first quarter lead and having no answer to NLEX’s hot shooting led by Robert Bolick in the second half.
The Hotshots dropped to 7-3 for third place in the standings, with their twice-to-beat chances in the quarterfinals in peril.
Sangalang, Navarro and Lee were all on the floor in the fourth when Magnolia tried to erase NLEX’s lead that ballooned to a high of 17.
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