Ian Sangalang suing Singaporean accuser after getting dragged to game-fixing case

Ian Sangalang denied throwing Game 5 of the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup Finals. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY—Ian Sangalang denied his role in an alleged game-fixing scheme that involved Magnolia's PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 5 loss to San Miguel in 2018.

Sangalang even said that he is also mulling legal actions of his own against Singaporean national Koa Wei Quan, who according to the six-foot-seven center just dragged him into the scandal even if they don't know each other.

"Hindi ko kilala yung tao na yun. Hindi totoo yun," Sangalang told commissioner Willie Marcial when he was summoned to his office on Monday.

Koa was said to have offered Sangalang US$5,000 (almost PHP280,000 as of Monday) for him to throw the Hotshots under the bus against the Beermen in the said game.

SMB prevailed in double overtime, 108-99, to capture the title, but the final margin was exactly what was allegedly agreed upon between Koa and Sangalang.

Highlights of the second overtime session went viral again over the weekend when news broke out about the game-fixing scandal.

Netizens, though, pointed out how Sangalang was error-prone during the said period, committing four turnovers, even as his teammates seemingly let June Mar Fajardo score a late layup for the nine-point margin and Jio Jalalon blew a wide-open layup before time expired.

Sangalang, however, insisted that integrity is of utmost importance every time he plays.

"Hindi ko ipagpapalit ang career at dangal ko sa ganung bagay," Sangalang further said.

TNT 3x3 star Almond Vosotros and former PBA player Leo Avenido were also dragged into the game-fixing scandal currently on trial.

The PBA's own probe on the game-fixing mess is ongoing.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno