SINUSPINDE ang dalawang manlalaro ng Pampanga Giant Lanterns na sina Michael Juico at Mark Cruz matapos madawit sa alegasyong game-fixing kontra San Juan Knights sa North Division finals.
Sa nilabas na memo ng pamunuan ng MPBL na pirmado ni Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes ay hinirit sa NBI na imbestigahan ang kaso ng dalawa na nasangkot sa bentahan umano ng laro sa North semifinals series game.
“The league has requested the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate on suspected game fixing activities and other related scheming activities performed by your players MICHAEL JUICO and MARK CRUZ during the semifinals series game [against the] San Juan team,” saad sa statement ni Duremdes.
Kasabay nito ay tiniyak din ng MPBL na wala silang papanigan bagkus ay hahayaan nilang gumulong ang kaso at maimbestigahan ang dalawang player na sinasabing sangkot sa anomalya.
“MPBL suspends MICHAEL JUICO and MARK CRUZ in order to give way to a thorough investigation on this matter. You are therefore requested to advise your players to cooperate in this investigation. MPBL will not hesitate to pursue criminal charges against any person found to have participated in game fixing and other scheming activities that have affected the results of the games,” ayon pa sa statement.
Nauna rito’y nadawit na rin sa kontrobersya ang ilang MPBL player, partikular na ang SOCCSKSARGEN Marlins team, nang maakusahang sangkot sa game-fixing.