GAB suspends VisMin Cup Mindanao leg

THE Games and Amusements Board (GAB) on Sunday suspended the Mindanao leg of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup and put the league under re-evaluation.

The suspension of the Mindanao leg which was set to start on May 20 and the reevaluation of the league, which gained professional status from GAB, came in the wake of the game-fixing and/ or point shaving allegations in the game between the Siquijor Mystics and the ARQ Lapu-Lapu Heroes last Wednesday.

The farcical game featured players who looked like they were intentionally missing free throws and wide open layups, on top of their lack of effort in the contest.

“We are in the process of investigation and seriously looking into the allegations of wrongdoing. The board would like to further observe the ongoing Visayas leg before giving a go signal for the other,” said GAB chairman Baham Mitra in a statement.

“In the meantime, GAB is reviewing official reports of its field officers in the bubble and of the league to determine the administrative liability of the licensees as well as the possibility of proceeding with criminal charges if warranted by the circumstances.

“Our mandate is to ensure the integrity of professional sports and welfare of players. We are doing just that.”

After an initial investigation of that Mystics-Heroes Wednesday game with GAB, VisMin Cup chief operating officer Rocky Chan on Thursday banned the whole Siquijor team for life on top of fines.

The league, however, spared players Miguel Castellano and Mike Sereno as the two were not present in the controversial game.

Chan also suspended some Lapu-Lapu players and handed out fines to each one of them.