By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

ROCKED by issues on betting and game-fixing, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) expressed determination to move past these and make the league even better.

On Tuesday, the MPBL, through commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, formally filed a complaint against 21 individuals allegedly involved in game-fixing and other related schemes affecting the competition in the two-year-old semi-professional league.

This after the MPBL concluded investigation, in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation, of personalities it suspected to be engaging in illegal activities at the expense of the fledging league founded by boxing legend, senator and basketball supporter Manny Pacquiao.

The respondents are facing 17 counts of betting and multiple counts of game-fixing and points shaving under Presidential Decree No. 483.

The MPBL said the acts were committed from July to October 2019.

Charged were majority of the Soccsksargen team as well as some team officials.

Team players who were named respondents in the complaint are Jake Diwa, Exequiel A. Biteng, Jerome E. Juanico, Matthew M. Bernabe, Julio A. Magbanua Jr., Abraham P. Santos, John Patrick C. Rabe, Ryan T. Regalado, and Ricky Morillo, along with team owner and player Kevin Espinosa.

Other respondents are Sonny Uy, Serafin Matias, EJ Avila, Niño Dionisio, Ferdinand C. Melocoton, Nice Ilagan, Janus Lozada, and Joshua Alcober.

The charges also named as mastermind a certain “Mr. Sung,” whom MPBL officials described as a Chinese national. Serving as a go-between for the betting syndicate and the teams were identified as a certain “Kein” and “Emma.”

Those found guilty face imprisonment of a maximum of six years and a fine of P2,000.

In a press conference at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City after the filing of charges, Mr. Pacquiao could not help but express his disappointment over the issue even as he said such activities have no place in the MPBL and basketball as a whole.

He went on to remind people that the MPBL was built to champion fair play and build hometown heroes whom various communities in the country can look up to.

Mr. Pacquiao vowed to pursue the case up to the end and make an example out of those found guilty to rid the league of bad apples, adding that investigation is still ongoing to check further anomalies.

AN EYE-OPENER
For Mr. Duremdes, the current issue on illegal schemes they are dealing with is an eye-opener not only for them in the MPBL but also for Philippine sports.

“It’s an eye-opener for everyone, not only here in the MPBL but in Philippine sports in general,” said the MPBL commissioner in an interview on the sidelines of the league press conference.

“We really wanted to pursue this because such things have been happening in many sports here for a long time now and yet nothing is being done. And this is our chance to infuse change,” he added.

Mr. Duremdes, a legend in the Philippine Basketball Association, reminded MPBL teams and players of their responsibilities to the league and the communities they represent, underscoring the need for them to conduct themselves in the best possible way.

He went on to share that in the aftermath of the filing of charges, they will sit down and discuss ways to curb illegal activities in the league, even considering engaging the services of a third party to do the monitoring.

Despite everything that had happened, Mr. Duremdes is confident that the league would be able to rise over these issues and move on as a better organization.

“We’re still positive. This is a challenge for us but we are ready against this as an organization. Our mission is to have league for everybody and we are not deterred on seeing that through,” he said.

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