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World boxing champion Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquaio, founder of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, ordered the suspension of the whole SOCCSKSARGEN Team due to allegations of “game-fixing and other related scheming activities.”
Pacquiao’s order was implemented by MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, who gave the notice to SOCCSKSARGEN Team.
“Pursuant to the MPBL’s serious drive against game-fixing and all other scheming activities related thereto, and MPBL’s serious thrust on clean and credible basketball, the league has requested the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate on game-fixing activities and other related scheming activities of your team wherein certain management personnel, coaching staff and players are involved,” Duremdes said in memo to SOCCSKSARGEN Team dated October 25, 2019.
“In view of this, MPBL suspends the whole SOCCSKSARGEN Team and hereby takes over the management of the team in order to give way to a thorough investigation on this matter. MPBL will thereafter pursue criminal charges against any person found to have participated in game-fixing and other scheming activities that have affected the results of the games,” the memo read.a
Conceding that the decision to suspend a team in the MPBL was difficult, Pacquiao, however, stressed he and the MPBL management had to take drastic action to protect the integrity of the league.
“This should serve as a serious reminder to all other teams in the MPBL that we are intolerant to any form of cheating and other unsportsmanlike behavior,” said Pacquiao.
“We formed MPBL precisely to promote fair play in basketball, so I don’t want to hear anything that would besmirch the name of the league,” he added.
Upon hearing reports of game-fixing in the MPBL, Pacquiao said the MPBL sought the help of the NBI to conduct a probe on the matter.
The NBI has initially pinpointed SOCCSKSARGEN Team as involved in game-fixing, but Pacquiao said the investigation is still on-going.
The senator said he will be taking over the management of the SOCCSKSARGEN Team to do some “house cleaning.”
Instead of dissolving the team, Pacquiao said he would take over its management. He guaranteed that those who are not involved in game-fixing will be spared.
But those implicated in game-fixing activities and other illegal game capers will be removed. He already has the identities of the players, team officials and staff members, who were tagged in cheating. Pacquiao vowed to name them soon.
He said they will be arrested and appropriate charges will be filed against them.
“Basketball is one of my passions and as the brainchild of the MPBL, I feel so sad to hear these reports of game-fixing,” Pacquiao said.