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| Bacolod's dubious fourth-quarter performance against Bulacan led to city mayor Greg Gasataya calling for an investigation. MPBL (file photo) |
TAGUIG—Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya called on the MPBL to investigate the game-fixing allegations against the said city's Masskara squad following the controversial ending to its 64-100 loss to Bulacan on Tuesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.
In a letter addressed to league president Kenneth Duremdes and commissioner Emmer Oreta that he posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, Gasataya said that Bacolod's defeat, marred by an almost eight-minute scoring drought to end the game that led to suspicions of throwing it, was a disgraceful one to the Bacolodnons.
"Undeniably, it has severely compromised the reputation of our city, outraged Bacolodnon sports fans, and directly threatened the public morals our office is legally sworn to protect," Gasataya's now-open letter read.
He added, "We cannot, and we will never, allow the name and integrity of Bacolod City to be associated with or tarnished by illegal game-fixing or irregular betting schemes."
Gasataya called for "an immediate technical audit" of the game's fourth quarter, the summoning of the Masskara members involved in the game for them to submit their explanation, and for the findings to be shared directly with the Bacolod City government and the Games and Amusements Board to evaluate the sanctions to be slapped.
The Masskara's next game is on Aug. 15 against the Biñan Tatak Gel, also at the Cuneta Astrodome, which means both the MPBL and GAB have a long time to probe the game-fixing allegations.
