SEN. Jinggoy Estrada on Wednesday revealed the identities of the 47 players and officials banned by the MPBL for their alleged involvement in game-fixing.
Estrada made the list public during a Senate hearing conducted jointly by the Sports, and Games and Amusement committees after the MPBL initially declined to disclose the identities of the players and coaches.
READ MPBL bans 47 players, officials for 'game-fixing,' lifts limit on ex-pros
Estrada said the public “owed to know” the identities of the players due to the rising popularity of the regional league. The senator added he got the permission of a top league official to make the list public.
Incidentally, Estrada is also the team owner of the San Juan Knights in the MPBL.
The list included former PBA players, former PBA draftees and products of both the UAAP and NCAA. Active coaches and team officials were also named among those 'banned indefinitely,' according to an MPBL official.
League officials didn't reveal how they came up with the list.
Among the persons allegedly involved based on the MPBL list that was read by Estrada were Harold Arboleda, Mac Montilla, Justin Matthew Alano, John Yambot Cantimbuhan Jr., Ryusei Koga, Christopher Menguez, Andretti Stevens, team manager Ross Alvarez, and coach Monel Kallos of Bacolod; Denzel Wong, Arvin Jay Vitug, Brian Ilad, Redel Fabro, Alfren Gayosa, Ronald Roy, Ralph Jeffrey Deles, Michael De Leon, Jethro Malamug, Kurt Rodriguez, Big Mac Sevilla, Kyle Philip Domagtoy, and Jasper Boac of Bicol.
Levi Dela Cruz, Jeric Nacpil, Daniel De Guzman, Jordan Ingel, Kent Segura, Buenaventura Raflores Jr., Renz Alcoriza, John Lorenz Capulong, team manager Ronz Yuson, and coaches Alexander Abrahano, and Pio San Juan of Bulacan; Marcelino Arellano, Macky Acosta, Julius Manalo, Kyle Neypes, Archie Salo, Allan Mangahas, and coaches Johan Dumlao, Darjuan, and basketball operations Ryan Repalda of Manila were also named by Estrada.
Stiffer penalties eyed
Joseph Brutas of Quezon City, and Francis Camacho, Kenneth Acibar, Dexter Mescallado, and Paolo Pontejos of Laguna were also identified by Estrada, based on the list.
Estrada is batting for stiffer penalties on game-fixing that he said has become rampant in the professional leagues.
“I propose stiffer penalties against perpetrators of game-fixing – longer jail time of up to life imprisonment if the offender is a member of a syndicate and a fine of up to P50 million,” Estrada said.
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.
