Dispute Over Basketball Court Leads to Stabbing, Man Dies
A man lost his life after being stabbed to death by his neighbor following a dispute over the use of a basketball court in Cavite.
On Sunday (January 12, 2025), a neighborhood argument over the use of a basketball court in Bacoor, Cavite, tragically ended in violence, leaving a 25-year-old man dead.
The victim, Josh Ybañez, a resident of Barangay San Nicolas 3 Extension, was reportedly stabbed by his 63-year-old neighbor during an escalating conflict. According to the local police, the argument began when Ybañez attempted to unlock the basketball net, which had been padlocked by the suspect.
When the key provided by the suspect didn’t work, tempers flared. The suspect struck Ybañez with a wooden plank, prompting the younger man to defend himself. The encounter briefly subsided, but the suspect returned home, retrieved a knife, and fatally stabbed Ybañez in the chest.
“Marami po sila magkakaibigan na maglalaro sila. So sabi ko sige… Doon sa pagkakakabit ng susi dalawang beses sila umakyat at hindi nila matanggal so para ayun sabi ko nga, ‘Akin na nga yung susi’ huwag na kayo maglaro,’” the suspect said.
Despite efforts to rush Ybañez to the hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival due to the severity of his injuries. The suspect later surrendered to authorities, bringing with him the knife allegedly used in the attack.
The suspect explained that the basketball court was usually locked to minimize disturbances in the neighborhood, but he opened it for use on weekends. He claimed frustration and self-defense, describing how the altercation went out of control.
He also expressed regret but insisted he felt bullied and provoked during the incident.
The tragedy left Ybañez’s family in mourning, particularly his partner, who is six months pregnant with their second child. Struggling to accept the loss, she recalled receiving a call about the attack and learning about Ybañez’s death while rushing to the hospital.
The suspect now faces murder charges.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the incident:
