GAME-FIXING is an issue that continues to hound the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Over the long weekend, officials of the two-year old league issued a memo saying that it is ready to name and take against against players and teams allegedly involved in game-fixing after a massive investigation.
“The league has requested the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate game-fixing activities and other related scheming,” wrote MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes in a memo released October 31.
Here's the full memo:
While the league declined to reveal the names at posting time, a source said that one struggling team is in hot water after a coach bared 'shenanigans' to Pacquiao.
“May isang staff sila na nagsumbong mismo kay Senator (Pacquiao) at dun nalaman lahat ng kabulastugan,” said the source. “Ang plano ngayon is ibaban ni Senator lahat ng sasabit tapos ite-take over na nya yung team."
Duremdes bared that all players and personnel found to have been involved in game-fixing will be named by Pacquiao this week and face possible bans.
Pacquiao will likely make the unprecedented move of taking over control of one team, a source added.
Allegations of players and coaching staff controlling the outcome of games to favor bookies have grown louder within the MPBL, where most players earn way less than what PBA counterparts normally receive.
MPBL is also reeling from accusations that some of its member teams are struggling to pay the wages of their players and staff.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
