Cracking the whip

Before this MPBL season started, league founder Manny Pacquiao presided in a press conference at Gameville and delivered a stern warning to players up to no good. The boxing legend said he wouldn’t hesitate to wield the axe on point-shavers, game-fixers, manipulators and anyone who desecrates the integrity of the sport. And so it happened. The other day, the MPBL issued a statement affirming the ban on Bacolod coach Lency Aransazo and seven of his players who figured in the 100-64 loss to Bulacan at the Cuneta Astrodome last July 28. The nature of the ban was permanent “in light of recent allegations concerning potential game-manipulation” even as MPBL described the measure as preventive and administrative. MPBL also announced the cancellation of the Bacolod franchise and said it will continue to investigate the case with government agencies.

Eyebrows were raised in the last 7:48 of the contest with Bulacan up, 81-64. Bacolod went scoreless from that point until the final buzzer. During the drought, Bacolod missed seven shots, five from three, committed six turnovers including two shot-clock violations, flubbed four free throws and gave up four fouls. Fil-foreigner Desmond Price fired 19 points but was pulled out for good with 6:39 to go. Another Bacolod player Emman Galman finished with 14 and was brought back to the bench, time down to 4:44.

Only nine players suited up for Bacolod, including homegrowners Jethro Ting and Edward Veloso. Seven were reportedly issued red cards to signify a permanent ban. Price wasn’t included in the ban. The red card system was instituted by Pacquiao himself as a way to clamp down on fixers. Aransazo had been issued a yellow card in a previous game against General Santos when Bacolod, trailing by 29, gave up a foul with 2.9 seconds left to allow points to be scored by the other team, purportedly to chase a point spread. One of the games that Bacolod lost was a 129-45 blowout to Abra, a margin of 84 points.

Right after the Bulacan-Bacolod game, MPBL commissioner Emmer Oreta met with Pacquiao in his Makati home to review the last 7:48. Oreta was accompanied by CEO Joe Ramos, security head Rudy Distrito, operations chief Zaldy Realubit and TV commentator Cedelf Tupas. Pacquiao fumed at the travesty of what he saw. Two days later, Oreta summoned the Bacolod coach and players to an inquiry at the Filoil EcoOil Center. Bacolod isn’t owned by an LGU and there is no suspicion of irregularities involving booking agencies as bettors seem to be wagering on their own. Agencies are protective of their credibility and wouldn’t compromise fairness as they’re heavily regulated. MPBL is on its eighth season and Pacquiao is relentless in his campaign to keep the games above board. He won’t back down from throwing out scalawags and this recent ban is a clear message that he’s totally serious in upholding fair play the right way.