Vis-Min welcomes GAB suspension order
THE Pilipinas Vis-Min Cup will respect the decision of Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and continue to cooperate with the government sports agency in protecting the integrity of the game.
“The league would abide and respect the decision of GAB based on their own investigation. This should serve as a warning to everyone that GAB and Vis-Min are taking a close look at these players and individuals who are disrespecting the sports we love,” said VisMin Super Cup Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rocky Chan.
The Vis-Min Cup – the first and only professional league in South – is set to open its second season on Nov. 11 in Pagadian City.
The announcement of the Vis-Min Cup came after the GAB finally cracked the whip and filed administrative cases against players and coaches involved in the controversial game between the Siquijor Mystics and ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu City in the Visayas leg of Vis-Min Super Cup last April 15.
GAB also formally revoked the professional licenses of the coach and nine players of the Siquijor Mystics after a case was filed at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office.
“We already filed administrative cases against the Vis-Min Cup players, coaches and owners who figured in alleged game fixing and conduct unbecoming in the game in Cebu,” said GAB Legal division head Atty. Ermar Benitez
“As a result of the incident, the pro sports division report to the board the results and we instituted a Motu Propio complaint against 29 individuals involving eight ARQ players, four ARQ coaches, two ARQ owners, 13 Siquijor players and two Siquijor coaches.”
Banned were Jan Peñaflor, Michael Calomot, Frederick Rodriguez, Gene Belleza, Jopet Quiro, Isagani Gooc, Miguel Castellano, Juan Aspiras, Joshua Alcober, Vincent Tangcay, John Buenafe, Michael Sereno, and Ryan Buenafe and their coach Joel Palapal.
Given six-month suspension were Lapu-Lapu City players Jojo Tangkay, Reed Juntilla, Monbert Arong, Dawn Ochea and Ferdinand Lusdoc as well as coach Francis Auquico.
Five other members of the Siquijor squad — assistant coach Magnelio Padrigao and players Michael Sereño, Miguel Castellano, Vincent Tangcay, and Isagani Gooc were acquitted.
Vis-Min Cup is one of several sports leagues which successfully organized bubble tournaments despite the pandemic by following health and safety protocols being enforced by the IATF thru GAB based on the Joint Administrative Order (JAO)
The other leagues are PBA, PFL, PVL, PCAP, NBL, WNBL and PGTI.
