CONGRESSMAN Franz Pumaren believes the alleged game-fixing controversy involving the Bacolod MassKara may not be an isolated case, saying other Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) teams could also be facing similar issues.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with DWAR 1494 Abante Sports Now, the former PBA coach urged league officials to conduct a wider review of previous games instead of limiting the investigation to Bacolod.
“From what I’ve been hearing, from what I’ve gathered, hindi lang naman itong Bacolod ang may problema dito. Several teams that I can name puwedeng involved rin,” Pumaren said.
While declining to identify the teams, Pumaren said the information reaching him suggests the controversy could involve more than one franchise.
He also questioned the league’s current structure, saying the MPBL may have expanded too quickly and now needs to reassess how it supervises teams and games.
“Napakaganda ng konsepto ng MPBL. Probably they expanded masyadong mabilis, kaya kailangan nilang i-review kung paano nila pinapatakbo ang tournament,” he said.
Pumaren added that league officials should have acted immediately whenever they observed suspicious play.
He said basketball executives and members of the technical committee should be able to recognize when players are no longer giving their best effort.
Following the controversy, the MPBL permanently banned the Bacolod MassKara players and coaching staff involved and removed the franchise from the remainder of the season, while the Games and Amusements Board continues its own investigation. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
