THE Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup on Tuesday lifted the suspension on Monbert Arong, paving the way for the veteran to rejoin the ARQ Builders-Lapu Lapu Heroes in the league bubble in Alcantara, Cebu.
The league cleared the former Far Eastern University guard of any wrongdoing during the match between the Heroes and the Siquijor Mystics, where suspicious play by both sides raised allegations of match-fixing.
Organizers said it meant to suspend Franz Arong and not Monbert in the aftermath of the controversial match. It spotted the error and subsequently made the correction following a review of the match.
The two Arongs are not related.
“After thorough review of the game tape by our league and technical officials, between ARQ Lapu-Lapu Builders and Siquijor Mystics, it has come to our attention that Mr. Monbert Arong is not part of the issue and it was Mr. Franz Arong that was involve. Hence, Mr. Monbert Arong is cleared to play effective immediately,” said the league in the memo.
Monbert Arong is now eligible to play for the Heroes in their next game against Tabogon Builders after his suspension for the rest of the tournament was lifted and a P15,000 penalty cancelled.
These sanctions will now be meted on Franz Arong.
Aside from the Arong's reinstatement, the league also issued a memo stating that all teams must surrender their mobile phones to league officials and police personnel before games.
In a separate memo, the league also announced the appointments of Chelito Caro as head of basketball operations and Raymond Mercader as member of the technical team.
“They will be working together with the technical team headed by Rey Cañete to oversee the league’s on-court activities, enforcement of player conduct standards and discipline and to ensure that all teams will be in compliance with the VisMin Super Cup rules and regulations,” said the league.
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