Pacquiao files game fixing raps to 21 people

Manny Pacquiao slapped Abby Santos with 13 counts of point shaving and two counts of game fixing. MPBL (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Manny Pacquiao brought his seriousness to eradicate game fixing in the MPBL to a higher level.

On Tuesday, the league owner went to DOJ to file multiple point shaving and game fixing charges to 21 personalities who are allegedly involved in these acts.

He then revealed the names of the said people who were slapped with the said charges.

Eleven players, namely Jake Diwa, Exe Biteng, Ricky Morillo, Jerome Juanico, Matthew Bernabe, Julio Magbanua, Abby Santos, John Patrick Rabe, Ryan Regalado, Janus Lozada and Josh Alcober, headline the list.

All of them are charged with up to 17 counts of point shaving.

Only Lozada and Alcober were spared from game fixing charges.

The said players make up the core of the original SOCCSKSARGEN Marlins squad which came in as an expansion for the ongoing Lakan Season.

Head Coach Bong Melocoton, Team Manager Kevin Espinosa, and team officials Serafin Matias, EJ Avila, and Sonny Uy were also handed charges of up to 11 counts of point shaving.

The said people were also slapped with game fixing charges, but Pacquiao filed two game fixing counts on Uy.

On Nov. 4, Pacquiao bared that the Marlins were being probed for game fixing activities.

He eventually shut down SOCCSKSARGEN's operations temporarily.

[Related Story: MPBL suspends SOCCSKSARGEN for game-fixing claims]

However, Pacquiao, who took over the managerial job for the Marlins on a caretaker basis, quickly built a new lineup for their game the following night against the Pampanga Giant Lanterns.

Pampanga would maul new look SOCCSKSARGEN by 44 points.

[Related Story: New-look SOCCSKSARGEN still overpowered as Pampanga scores 44-point rout]

Pacquiao then named the guy behind the game fixing schemes as a certain Mr. Sung.

Sung was charged with 17 counts of sports betting, 17 counts of point shaving, and two counts of game fixing.

Pacquiao then revealed that Sung has two allies, who only go by the names Kein and Emma.

Kein and Emma were each charged with 17 counts of point shaving and two counts of game fixing.

The other official named in the charges turned out to be Quezon City Capitals co-owner Niño Dionisio.

Interestingly, the reveal happened hours after the entire Quezon City coaching staff led by head coach Vis Valencia stepped down from their posts.

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