• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has revoked the professional license of five former players of the now-defunct Bacolod MassKara basketball team, and permanently disqualified them from participating in GAB-sanctioned professional games.
In its ruling received by the Bacolod City government Sept. 21, the GAB Professional Sports and Games Division found Christopher Paul Rivas, Alex Teruel II, Edward Neil Veloso, Jeremy Monton, and Marjun Wahing “guilty of conduct unbecoming professional athletes”.
“Accordingly, their professional licenses are revoked, effective upon finality of this decision, and they are permanently disqualified from participating in any professional basketball games sanctioned by the Board,” the GAB said in a decision promulgated Sept. 16.
The charges against four other players — Desmond Price, Harley Briant Ching, Emman Galman, and Jethro Ammiell Ting — were dismissed for lack of merit.
The decision follows results of an official investigation into a Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) match July 28, where Bacolod lost to the Bulacan Kuyas, 100-64.
The match drew criticisms after the Bacolod players went on an eight-minute scoring drought during the remaining minutes of the game while committing multiple turnovers, leading to allegations of possible game manipulation.
The Board said there was sufficient evidence that the players failed to display the expected level of professional play during the period in question.
The probe was initiated following a request from Mayor Greg Gasataya, who emphasized the need for transparency to protect public trust and the integrity of the sport.
Gasataya also inquired with the MPBL regarding the team’s use of the “MassKara” name, citing local protection under Bacolod Ordinance 1020, which safeguards the city’s cultural property rights.
“The ‘MassKara’ name is a protected cultural trademark and a proud symbol of Bacolod City’s resilience,” Gasataya said in his letter.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City administrator, Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, welcomed the development, adding the city still wants to know who handled the now defunct team.
The MPBL had already removed the Bacolod MassKara franchise from the remainder of its 2026 season. | TMD
