By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Right after the controversial game between the ARQ-Lapu-Lapu City Builders and the Siquijor Mystics in the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial was quick to say that the big league hasn’t been a part of any malicious basketball activities.
Marcial also confirmed that during the time of previous commissioner Chito Narvasa, some members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were present in the playing venue to make sure everything was in place.
“May ahensya tayo dyan. Dati noong panahon ni Commissioner Chito Narvasa, may NBI tayo noon na nasa venue lagi,” Marcial said.
Marcial added that they already learned from the past, recalling that game in the PBA D-League where Mila’s Lechon got under fire due to game-fixing allegations.
“Nangyari na rin sa atin yan sa D-League, tinanggal natin ang players ng isang team at sinuspend natin ang players,” Marcial shared.
Since then, the league has been extra careful of the games, the players, and the coaches not only to protect the credibility of the league but to also show that they respect the sport.
Sometimes, the commissioner is doing his own thing of keeping track with the players on the playing court by his own means of surveillance.
“Ang ginagawa ko, personal. Minsan masasabi mo na talagang may off night eh. So kinakausap ko yung mga players na may off-night, ‘Bakit ganoon yung laro mo?'” Marcial added.
