CENTRO Escolar University has kicked out seven players following their admission of involvement in game-fixing, head coach Derrick Pumaren bared on Thursday.
"We have strong evidences and they've admitted it and now, they're out of the team," the veteran mentor said after a shorthanded CEU side progressed to the 2019 PBA D-League semifinals following a gutsy 84-74 win over Go for Gold-CSB.
"We cannot tolerate those things."
School officials identified the seven players but the names are being withheld pending the completion of the ongoing school investigation.
Pumaren said the school found out about the issue on Wednesday after the Scorpions' game in the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL) summer league, with a number of players being flagged.
However, Pumaren declined to go into details on how the players allegedly fixed the games, or if there are other similar cases in games outside of the UCBL.
"The sad part is even in a small league, pati summer league nadamay. Parang nakakapanghina and frustrating. Pati ba naman yun?" the former PBA coach said.
Pumaren couldn't hide his disappointment over the players, especially seeing how CEU big man Maodo Malick Diouf has been playing despite fasting during the season of Ramadan just to help the team win.
"Even Malick feels bad about it. That's why he's crying. He's very emotional sa mga nangyari, na bakit nga daw ginawa yun? He's here willing to sacrifice, walang kain at walang inom. Pero yung iba, ganoon ang ginawa," he said of the Senegalese center, who poured in 25 points and 29 rebounds in the Game Two victory.
"Yung game na mahal natin, parang nababoy eh at parang hindi naman tama 'yun. Masyadong unfair sa amin, sa mga gustong maglaro. Mahal natin ang basketball. It's been good to us and to our families, kaya masyadong masakit para malaman yung ganoon. We have a chance, so why ruin it? Bakit mo itatapon ang future mo?"
Pumaren hinted more players face the ax once the investigation is completed.
"Hindi pa tapos. There's more that might still happen. There might still be changes due to the investigation na mangyayari. Baka meron pang matanggal, pero di ko pa malaman," he said.
As for the CEU team competing in the ongoing PBA D-League and the other preseason tournaments, Pumaren said he has no choice but to make do with what he has.
"We just have to move forward. We cannot cry over spilt milk. Nangyari na, so we're just gonna keep on playing," he said. "We're gonna play with the players that we have. We won't tolerate such acts. We'll bite the bullet. If we lose, we lose."
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