2021 Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Scandal

The 2021 Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup game-fixing scandal revolves around the game between the ARQ Builders-Lapu-Lapu City Heroes and Siquijor Mystics in the 2021 Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup 1st Conference held on April 14, 2021. The game was called off at half-time with the score line of 27–13, with Lapu Lapu City leading. The game was subject to controversy due to "lack of respect for the game" displayed with both teams missing an unusual amount of free throws and was marred by suspicion that there was game fixing involved.

Background

The Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup is a professional regional league featuring teams from Visayas and Mindanao. Where teams within the same region (Visayas or Mindanao) play against each other in the regular season. The league's inaugural conference opened on April 9, 2021, with the Visayas leg. The Visayas leg was held under a bubble in Alcantara, Cebu due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines at that time.

Heading into the controversional game, Siquijor lost its first game to Mandaue (46–66) but won its second game against the Dumaguete Warriors (105–100). Meanwhile, Lapu Lapu City registered a 75–61 win in their first game against Tabongon Voyagers.

Match details

The game was marred by several failed free throw and layup attempts by players of both the ARQ Builders-Lapu-Lapu City Heroes and the Siquijor Mystics. In the first quarter, the Siquijor Mystics only scored five points with the Lapu Lapu City Heroes responding with 24 points. In the second quarter, both teams scored low with the Mystics only converting eight of their shots and the Heroes only scoring four points. The game was halted at half-time and a press release by the league initially cited a power outage at the venue as the reason for the stoppage which makes the livestreaming of the game unfeasible despite the availability of a power generation on site. The score line stood 27–13 in favor of the Heroes.

The Mystics failed to convert all of their 10 free throw attempts while they have allowed the Heroes to make 20 attempts. Both teams missed an unusual amount of free throws. The Mystics were also noted to have been able to score only one point despite having many fastbreak attempts. Heroes player Rendell Senining's attempt was also noted for missing both of his free throw attempt; with the first one made using his left hand and the second one attempted using his right hand. Play was also briefly stopped after a power interruption mid-way into the second quarter prior to the game's stoppage at half time.

Aftermath

Initial reactions

The outcome of the game had widespread negative reception among the Philippine basketball community with noted players from the Philippine Basketball Association calling out the "lack of respect" for the sport during the game. Title sponsors of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, Bounty Agro Ventures said they could withdraw their support if not sanctions for erring parties would not be made. The company also alleged there was game fixing involved.

Heroes team owner Jason Arquisola maintained that his team intends to win the league title and alleged the opposing team did not, while admitted that his own players could have managed themselves better. Heroes player Rendell Senining who was noted for his failed free throw attempts using both his left and right hands in two separate attempts, maintained there was no game fixing on his team's part and the Heroes' conduct was due to frustration over the Mystics' play. Speaking for the team, he said the whole team felt that the Mystics were "disrespecting the game". Entering the second quarter, he narrated that the Heroes' head coach asked the opposing team to play properly. In a bid to have the game stopped, Senining said that the Heroes' players decide among themselves to have the "served back" the type of play the Mystics are using against them. Senining has also apologized for his role in the incident.

The Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup league management also learned the Siquijor Mystics had no formal connections with the local government of Siquijor province, which led to the management issuing a letter of apology to Zaldy Villa, the province's governor and Jake Villa, the province's congressman for admitting the team to the league.

Sanctions

The night after the game, the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup management decided to expel the Siquijor Mystics from the league and ban its players and coaches from joining other participating teams in the league. Coaches and players of the Lapu Lapu City Heroes were also suspended for the remaining of the first round of the Visayas leg and was also fined. The league management also released a statement clarifying that the Heroes' coaches were fined for unprofessional behavior rather than being involved in game fixing.

The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) also launched its own investigation on the incident. GAB could revoke the license of erring players and coaches. The investigation concluded in October 2021 with GAB revoking the licenses of 10 Mystics players and suspending both officials and players from both teams.

The following are the sanctions imposed for each team by the league:
;Sanctions on players

*Miguel Castellano (who was nursing an injury) and Michael Sereno (who did not enter the Alcantara bubble) have been cleared by the league.

;Sanctions on officials

Performance by Lapu Lapu

Despite their roster from being reduced to ten players, missing five key players and their head coach due to suspensions, the Lapu Lapu City Heroes went on to compete against the MJAS Zenith-Talisay City Aquastars, a team which has not incurred any league lost at the time, on April 17 and was leading 67–-64 with only six minutes left in that game. The Heroes eventually lost 75–84 to the Aquastars but the Heroes insist they intend to win the 2021 season league title.

References

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2021 scandals
Basketball controversies
Basketball games in the Philippines
Sports scandals in the Philippines