If you follow Philippine basketball, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that there was a fight in this afternoon’s game between Burger King and Smart Gilas. Yeng Guiao’s teams, after all, have been known to play a physical brand of basketball, and between the Guiao-Toroman issue and the Japeth Aguilar controversy, there’s enough bad blood between the two teams to know that the air would be combustible.

But who figured that the fight would be between Burger King point guard Wynne Arboleda and a heckler later identified as Alain Katigbak, a fan of Smart Gilas and Ateneo and a friend of Chris Tiu? (UPDATED: Chris's brother Charles left a comment clarifying that the Gilas team captain does not know the person involved, contrary to Fidel Mangonon's earlier tweet.)

(No truth to the rumor that Alain Katigbak is a pseudonym of Rick Olivares.)

PBA lifer Fidel Mangonon tweeted a blow-by-blow account of the action: “Wynne's 4 punches-- left straight (connected), left hook (connected), right hook (grazed the head) & right upper cut (missed). Plus d left kick dat was planted hard on d guy's stomach, narrowly missing his balls.”

A few months ago, Danny Ildefonso was involved in a near-fracas against a fan, and I wrote about how Danny I.’s behavior was inexcusable. This is doubly so for Wynne Arboleda, and I really hope the PBA lowers the boom on him.

(UPDATE: The always-awesome Patricia Hizon following up over on Twitter: “Here's more on the fan that got beat up. Alain us from ayala alabang n has a construction company in bacoor. He's 31.he went for a medical. he's gettn his lawyer n pressing charges. He said d P word a few times n told arboleda "Matanda ka na" + more P words.” Fidel Mangonon also tweeted a picture of the incident.)

The fight almost overshadowed Burger King’s 115-105 win over the young Nationals. The game started roughly with a few flagrant foul calls, but the Whoppers were able to keep Gilas at bay throughout the game. Gilas import CJ Giles battled foul trouble throughout the game, and BK leaned on Extra Rice Incorporated board member Beau Belga’s 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists to carry them through. It was a figurative way of telling the developmental team: “Marami pa kayong kakaining bigas!”

And if you looked at the difference in girth between Belga and Aguilar, you’d agree.

The action will be broadcast tonight on CS/9 at 11:30PM.