Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — “I ask that you forgive me.”
This was the plea of Talk ‘N Text import Ivan Johnson on the heels of a lifetime ban from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)— a penalty caused by his actions in Saturday’s (February 13) game against the Meralco Bolts.
Read: Talk ‘N Text import Ivan Johnson banned for good
After his outburst on Saturday, the temperamental reinforcement was a tamed beast on Sunday (February 14), seeking league Commissioner Chito Narvasa’s forgiveness in a statement posted on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, respectively.
“I do want to sincerely and most humbly apologize to Commissioner Narvasa for last night’s game,” he said.
During the first half of Saturday’s tussle, Johnson incurred a technical foul and a flagrant foul penalty one leading to his ejection from the game. He then hurled expletives at the league chieftain, prompting the latter to impose the scathing ban for “utter disrespect for authority.”
After that, he posted a cryptic tweet saying, “The devil is working overtime.”
“The fines that I’ve gotten have never been issued out to nobody. What’s the hate against me?” he said in a follow up tweet.
Johnson admitted that the lifetime ban was “truly unfortunate and devastating,” but thanked the league and the commissioner nonetheless for the opportunity to play in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
With the decision seemingly irrevocable, the former Atlanta Hawk thanked his fans and apologized for disappointing them.
“I would like to thank all of my fans for the support you have shown my family and I. Your tremendous love and dedication is and will always be greatly appreciated,” said Johnson, who led the Tropang Texters in their Commissioner’s Cup conquest last season.
“I am truly sorry for the role I played in the events of last night’s game and the devastation and disappointment I have caused all of you.”
