THE VisMin Super Cup and the Games and Amusements Board last Monday night announced that the Mindanao leg of the Chooks-to-Go-backed new pro league will push through after it was initially suspended.
“The holding of Mindanao leg, which will strictly adhere to the ‘No License, No Play’ policy, is conditioned on the submission of the regulatory requirements, such as health screening, drug testing, and related documents, as well as on continuing adherence to protocols and strict supervision of the games,” GAB chairman Baham Mitra said.
“We are grateful to the league officials for their sincerity to undertake the needed reforms for the protection and welfare of professional basketball, the players, and the public,” he added.
The Mindanao leg is set to kick off on May 30, with the host province still to be announced.
KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue City bagged the title in the controversial Visayas leg in a bubble in Alcantara, Cebu after it stunned top seed MJAS Zenith-Talisay City in three grueling games, capped by an 89-75 victory in the decider last Sunday.
In a blatant mockery of the sport so dear to Filipinos, players muffed free throws and botched open lay-ups in the Siquijor and ARQ Builders-Lapu Lapu City tiff last April 14, with the Heroes’ Rendell Senining shooting free throws with his left and right hand on separate occasions, both of which he badly missed.
Banishment from the league, suspensions, and fines were handed out to the erring players and coaches.
The league tapped a three-man independent investigative body to investigate the controversial game. The panel is composed of a long-time basketball administrator, a veteran basketball coach, and a FIBA rules expert. Its findings and recommendations are now being finalized and shall be released in the coming days.
VisMin Cup officials also submitted to the GAB’s Anti-Illegal Gambling Unit (AIGU), through the PNP of Alcantara, Cebu, their joint affidavits stating the results of their thorough review and investigation.
“Both the GAB and the league knew the challenges when the games were launched, health protocols and game-manipulation being on top of the list,” Mitra said.
“We are just glad that we are able to move forward, thanks to a large part on the professionalism of league management and the sacrifices of our personnel on the field who joined the bubble as supervisors.”
