MANILA, 27 December 2002 — Fears mount that a syndicate is still proliferating in Philippine basketball.
The Senate itself is alarmed that the country’s hardcourt has also become a virtual gambling den for syndicates to thrive and practice their illegal trade.
As a matter of fact, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is batting for a thorough investigation on alleged game-fixing activities in collegiate, amateur and professional basketball competitions.
“The practice of corruption has become so rampant that even the Filipino’s favorite past time has not been spared from its snares,’’ he said.
An investigation should be in order, according to Pangilinan, to check the veracity of reports on alleged game-fixing in collegiate, amateur and professional basketball leagues, including the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
“The report on game-fixing in our basketball leagues is alarming, and I think we should do something to prevent such practice and save basketball leagues from the claws of corruption,’’ the senator said.
Pangilinan, along with Sen. Robert Barbers, chair of the Senate Committee on Games, Amusements and Sports, filed Senate Resolution No. 491 calling for an investigation on the alleged game-fixing activities.
The senator reiterated the appeal made by former Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) President Gonzalo Puyat to club and team owners as well as school authorities to police their ranks against game fixers who were reportedly approaching basketball players to throw the games in exchange for huge sum of money.
Puyat, who is also president of the World Basketball Federation (WBF), hinted at game-fixing as the main reason why favored teams lost to lightly regarded opponents as top players performed suspiciously below expectations.
“It startled me how school and game officials tolerate such practice at the expense of sportsmanship. Beyond unforeseen repercussions, we might see a requiem for Philippine sports development if we allow this practice to flourish and victimize our young and promising athletes,’’ the senator said. “Sports is an important tool in inculcating discipline and sportsmanship among the youth. We cannot allow them to become prey to gambling syndicates lest we allow their moral consciousness to rot in the hands of heartless enterprising persons.’’
The Senate Committee on Games, Amusements and Sports is also investigating alleged fake Fil-Americans in the PBA.
Even Sen. John Osmeña is suspecting a group of syndicate-lawyers allegedly headed by the son of the Northern Samar governor being responsible for the recruitment of some of the suspected illegitimate Fil-foreign players notoriously known as “Fil-shams”.
These “Fil-shams”, he noted, are said to be having a hard time explaining their roots but are claiming origin in the Visayas region.
The Cebu solon said there is something “fishy” on an apparent pattern not only of the entry of these “Fil-shams” into the professional league, but also their family background.
The syndicate, allegedly led by a certain Paul Daza, serves as “brokers” to fix certain documents on the players’ stay in the country.
“There seems to be a common link, the son of the governor of Samar,” Osmeña commented while interrogating, Michael Hrabak, Tony de la Cruz and Robert Wainwright of Shell and Purefoods Noy Castillo and Andrew John Seigle recently.
Interestingy, De la Cruz and the other Fil-foreigners admitted hearing about Daza but denied having any ties with him.
Earlier, Sen. Robert Barbers, who heads the committee on games, amusements and sports, scored the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation for its failure to immediately deport the alleged “Fil-Shams” seeing action in the PBA.
Sen. Barbers said despite the failure of the alleged “Fil-shams” to submit documents that would prove their Filipino lineage, they are allowed to play in the local league.
He said it is “imperative that the BID act swiftly on these players pretending to have Filipino ancestry.”
“Many of the Fil-foreigners have been playing in the PBA for the last four years but have yet to show Filipino IDs that are issued by the BID and an affirmation from the Department of Justice,” Barbers said.
Likewise, Sen. Barbers said the Samar angle is apparent.
“It seems that Eastern Samar’s popular now. Even Asi Taulava’s relatives are from Samar,” Barbers said.
Both Osmeña and Barbers hinted that there is something possibly anomalous over the players’ personal or family background as some of the Fil-Ams could not ascertain the location of their existing relatives in the country. “It’s beyond comprehension that a Fil-Am does not know his relatives,” Barbers pointed out.
At least 26 Fil-foreign players have already submitted documents to prove their Filipino lineage to the Senate.
Fil-foreign players playing in the PBA include William Antonio (Coca-Cola), Nick Belasco (San Miguel), Jeffrey Cariaso (Coca-Cola), Alex Crisano (Talk ‘N’Text), Robert Duat (Alaska), Kenny Evans (Talk ‘N’Text), David Friedhof, Davonn Harp (Red Bull), Rudy Hatfield (Coca-Cola), Michael Hrabak (Shell), Chris Jackson (Shell), Eric Menk (Ginebra), Jonathan Ordonio (Alaska), Ali Peek (Alaska), Dorian Peña (San Miguel), Michael Pennisi (Red Bull), Rafi Reavis (Coca-Cola), Andy Seigle (Purefoods), Danny Seigle (San Miguel), Asi Taulava (Talk ‘N’Text), Robert Wainwright (Shell), Noy Castillo (Purefoods) and James Walkvist (Ginebra).
Sen. Barbers, citing BID reports, had earlier identified at least seven players lacking the necessary documents to legalize their stint in the PBA.
The improperly documented cagers were identified as (Andy) Seigle and Crisano, Belasco, Peek, Duat, Wallkvis and Hrabak.
Based on the documents submitted to the committee, the senators discovered the seven do not have affirmation from the Department of Justice and a Filipino ID, which is issued by the immigration bureau.
Under BID rules, the Fil-foreign players should possess a BID-issued Filipino ID and a DOJ confirmation before they could play in the PBA.
Seigle, however, is the holder of a Filipino passport, having represented the country in the 1998 and 2002 Asian Games.
According to Barbers, the players’ failure to complete the requirements could be ample ground to initiate summary deportation proceedings against them.
