SBP to investigate VisMin Cup issue

AS the national sports association for basketball in the country, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) may sanction all the parties involved in the alleged game-fixing/point-shaving activities in the game between the Siquijor Mystics and the ARQ Lapu-Lapu Heroes in the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup last Wednesday.

“I think from the federation’s point-ofview, we can sanction them, maybe, by suspending the players and the league. Definitely, we need to sanction them. I just want to make sure that we make the right application of sanctions,”said SBP President Al Panlilio in Noli Eala’s“Power and Play”program on Saturday.

Panlilio shared that he already tasked SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios and Deputy Executive Director Burch Antonio to investigate the game, which featured players, apparently, intentionally missing free throws and wide open layups on top of the lack of effort in the contest.

The league, which holds a professional status, halted the game at the halftime mark with a score of 27-13 in favor of Lapu-Lapu, citing “power interruption” as the cause of the stoppage.

A day after the game, though, league Chief Operating Officer Rocky Chan brought the hammer down as he banned the whole Mystics team from the league, handed suspensions and fined select members of the Lapu-Lapu Heroes.

“I already asked Sonny Barrios and Butch Antonio to investigate what happened because this is unacceptable in any sport,” said Panlilio.

“They were the only few who were privileged to play, and they should take advantage of that. There’s a great responsibility of being given that chance, and they have to show the youth how the game should be played,” he added. Panlilio was upset with what he saw. “I was aghast with that incident. It’s completely disrespecting the game that we love. It’s a complete disrespect for the game. Even FIBA will frown on this,”he warned.

To avoid these from happening again, Panlilio said the SBP will work with the country’s regulatory board for professional sports, the Games and Amusements Board.