DID you know that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer at the center of the raging firestorm over alleged 'ghost' flood control projects in Bulacan's first district is a big PBA fan?
Sources told SPIN.ph that Engineer Henry Alcantara, tagged as the alleged mastermind in the multi-billion-peso scandal, is a fixture in the VIP section of arenas during PBA games, especially those featuring Ginebra and Gilas Pilipinas.
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In fact, Alcantara would often buy VIP tickets in bulk and often reserved the seats beside the Ginebra bench for his family and friends.
“Si Sir Henry, regular 'yan sa PBA games lalo na 'pag playoffs ng Ginebra. Gusto n'ya pa nga mismo sa tabi ng Ginebra bench. Kadalasan nga napagkakamalang team official ng Ginebra yan,” said a league insider.
Being around the games often had Alcantara developing friendships with some PBA officials and players, a source added.
Regulars on VIP row
“Mabait 'yan. Alam ko nga maraming tinutulungang players yan sa liga. Alam ko siya rin ang ninong ng mga players lalo na 'pag may mga guesting at appearances sa Bulacan ang mga players,” a source said.
“Nilalapitan at inaakap ng mga player sa courtside 'yan tuwing may games. Madalas pa nga kinukuhang ninong ng mga players sa anak nila,” he added.
Another source bared that during crucial Ginebra games like Game 7 of the PBA Governors Cup Finals against TNT last March 28, Alcantara bought six VIP tickets for his family. A single ticket cost around P5,000.
“Hindi biro ang ticket dun sa VIP ha. Ang mahal nun saka usually pag ganun, ubos agad. Tapos Game 7 pa. Yan yung mga seats na usually bakante pag elimination round. Sa tabi ng coaching staff at management ng team 'yun,” said another source.
Here Alcantara can be seen on the said VIP row in Game 7 of the Barangay Ginebra - San Miguel semifinals, just beside actor Zanjoe Marudo, Quezon City District 1 representative Arjo Atayde and Daniel Padilla.
Atayde was one of the congressmen incriminated by Sarah Discaya in the senate hearing.
Even during Gilas’ send-off game against the Macau Black Bears last July 28, Alcantara was seen seated at courtside with his family and friends when the national team came back from a 21-point deficitto win, 103-98.
Having developed a closeness to the Alcantaras, one PBA official meanwhile is appealing to the public to spare his children from the bashing.
Several political blogs and pages have been posting photos of Alcantara and his kids, including one of his sons who is playing basketball for his school.
“Wala namang kinalalaman yung mga bata kaya sana, yung mga sports fans na kasama sa nagagalit sa nangyari, sana hindi idamay,” said the PBA official.
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