THE expulsion of the Bacolod Masskara franchise from the remainder of the MPBL 2026 Season and the lifetime suspension imposed on the players and coaches covered by the league's disciplinary action, is just the start in the league's effort to protect the integrity of its games, Commissioner Emmer Oreta said.
Since the start of the season, the league said it has issued a yellow card to the head coach of the Masskara as a formal warning following integrity concerns. In May, the league also issued a yellow card to the Iloilo franchise following similar concerns.
In June, the MPBL revoked the franchise of the Iloilo team after violations of league standards. On July 30, following the July 28 game between Bacolod and Bulacan, the league issued red cards, disqualified the individuals involved, and removed the Bacolod franchise from the remainder of the season.
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"When I assumed the role of commissioner for MPBL Season 8, I made one commitment clear: to strengthen the integrity of the league through decisive and consistent action. Every action we have taken since then reflects that commitment," Oreta said.
"These actions reflect our commitment to protect the integrity of the MPBL," Oreta said.
"If protecting the integrity of this league means having fewer teams, then so be it. I will never compromise the integrity of the MPBL. We owe that to our players, our team owners, our fans, and everyone who believes in fair competition."
Beyond the league's administrative actions, the MPBL, through the office of the chief legal counsel, Atty. Glenn Gacal, is in active coordination with the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and other government agencies, such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to further strengthen the ongoing investigation and pursue the appropriate legal and regulatory actions.
Gacal said the MPBL will continue to fully cooperate with the concerned government agencies and provide all necessary assistance to ensure that those responsible are held accountable in accordance with the law.
Nobody will be spared from the full-blown investigation, not even team officials and management, that the MBPL is seeking from the GAB, according to Gacal.
Regarding the Iloilo franchise, Gacal said rules and regulations, including its sanctions/penalties in the event of breach/violations, are already in place, and the team management's financial obligation to the players and the league should always be timely fulfilled.
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