Game Fixing has always been a thorn in the neck for Philippine Basketball. Like a plague, there is no shortage of game fixing scandal that rocked the local basketball scene which even led to the downfall of some players and the suspension or expulsion of others from their collegiate teams.
Just last August 13, 2019, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) issued a memorandum that warned team owners in its Developmental League (PBA D-League) that the Commissioner reserves the right to suspend or perpetually ban a team, player, or coach if the following circumstances are observed, to wit:
a) Noticeable sub-par performance of a team or player;
b) Failure of a coach to bench a player who is obviously or deliberately committing errors;
c) Deliberately benching a player for no apparent reason even if such player is already performing well.
Yet, in spite of the above stern warning, the PBA remained very suspicious of the recent trend in the results of the games. For instance, the 144-138 win of Hyperwash over McDavid last August 19, 2019 became a record for most points combined in a PBA D-League game. In the same game, JR Cawaling recorded the second biggest output by a player with his 48 points production.
A week later, Eloy Poligrates who previously played in the PBA and the Cebu Sharks of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) torched the rim with his record-setting 67 points performance to carry the Marinerong Pilipino to a 141-97 drubbing of Iwalk Chargers. As bizarre as it was, records continued to be set and broken as the BRT Sumisip St. Clare thrashed the Black Mamba team, 161-122 on September 2, 2019. The 161-point mark did not last long after BRT Sumisip crushed its own record with a 180-117 demolition of Hyperwash last September 16, 2019.
It is not the first time that game fixing has been suspected in a league. Through the years, several game fixing scandals broke out not only in the professional ranks but also in the amateurs such as the UAAP and the NCAA.
Just recently on May 2019, the Centro Escolar University Scorpions kicked out seven (7) members of its squad due to game fixing allegations in a summer league of the Universities and Colleges Basketball League (UCBL). As a result, the Scorpions soldiered on the quarterfinals up to the finals of the PBA D-League despite being undermanned.
Even in the ongoing MPBL Lakan Season, there are several active players and coaches who had been allegedly involved in game-fixing during their collegiate careers. Mindoro’s Mac Baracael was shot by unidentified men on July 24, 2008 supposedly upon orders by syndicates involved in game fixing in a desperate bid to silence him. Fortunately for Baracael, he survived the shooting.
Paolo Orbeta, who is one of the current owners of the Makati Supercrunch, was arrested back in 2007 in an entrapment operation by the NBI. Orbeta allegedly offered a certain Wilfred D. Uy to place a bet on a so-called “player’s odds". Orbetta guaranteed that Uy will win P1 million as the cager would make sure that he would score less than 11 points in the game. However, such win didn’t materialize.
Bonbon Custodio is all too familiar with game fixing accusations as he was unceremoniously suspended by the University of the East’s do-or-die Final Four game against the University of Santo Tomas due to alleged game fixing. Aside from Bonbon Custodio, Marc Barroca suffered the same fate as he was also removed from FEU’s roster in its Final Four during the UAAP 2009 season.
Game Fixing is against the law of the Philippines
Game fixing was made unlawful by Presidential Decree No. 483 signed by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 13, 1974. It defined game fixing as any arrangement, combination, scheme or agreement by which the result of any game, races or sports contests shall be predicted and/or known other than on the basis of the honest playing skill or ability of the players or participants.
The said law set penalties for game fixing depending on the role of the offender. If the offender is an official such as a promoter referee, umpire, judge, or coach in the game, race or sports contests, or the manager or sponsor of any participating team, individual or player therein, or participants or players in such games, races or other sports contests, he shall be imprisoned for 4 years and 2 months up to 6 years if convicted. In addition, he will also pay a fine of 2,000 pesos with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, at the discretion of the court.
When the offender is an official or employee of any government office or agency concerned with the enforcement or administration of laws and regulations on sports, he shall also suffer the same punishment above but shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment for life. If he is an alien, he may be deported.
All other offenders if found guilty shall be punished by imprisonment from 2 years and 4 months to 4 years, plus a fine of 1,000 pesos with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency at the discretion of the court.
Enforcement of the law is weak
Aside from PD 483, there are other laws which prohibit other forms of illegal gambling aside from game fixing. But in spite of these laws, game fixing and illegal gambling remain rampant due to lack of enforcement of the said laws.
To date, there’s no person convicted nor imprisoned due to game fixing. This is understandable due to the difficulty of prosecuting game fixing. The standard of evidence for proving guilt in criminal cases is proof beyond reasonable doubt. And due to the nature of game fixing, it is very difficult if not impossible to get someone who can testify against the offender. More often than not, participants of game fixing will not risk blowing the whistle since it would also affect their credibility especially if they are the star player in a team.
Perhaps the only way to capture the perpetrators is to entrap them similar to buy-bust operations against the drug dealers.
It could also be due to the lack of police manpower why enforcement of anti game fixing or illegal gambling laws are ineffective. It would be for the bigger good if the PBA or the MPBL cooperates with the NBI or PNP in eradicating game fixing within their ranks.
The MPBL and PBA unite for fighting game fixing
In the opening ceremony of the recent Lakan Season of the MPBL, Senator Manny Pacquiao who founded the MPBL specifically mentioned that he will not tolerate any game fixing in the MPBL. Putting his words into action, Pacquiao recently met with PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas and league Commissioner Willie Marcial in order to explore ways on how the PBA and the MPBL eliminate game fixing.
We have also observed some changes being implemented by the MPBL in order to minimize, if not eliminate game fixing. This include prohibiting players from using their phones hours before the game. In addition, the MPBL upon review also issued several sanctions to referees who made questionable calls during the game.
We have also observed some changes being implemented by the MPBL in order to minimize, if not eliminate game fixing. This include prohibiting players from using their phones hours before the game. In addition, the MPBL upon review also issued several sanctions to referees who made questionable calls during the game.
We all hope that their earnest efforts to fight game fixing will bear fruit as we don't want anymore scandals that will tarnish the image of basketball in our country.
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