SMC supports PH’s FIBA World Cup 2023 hosting

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has officially signed on as partner in the country’s hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 this August in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Filipino fans to watch the best teams and players from all around the world.

years, will serve as a significant boost to the country’s profile in the international sporting stage, if not help usher a new generation of young players that will carry the country’s flag in the future. Ang said that the decision to back the Philippine hosting of the prestigious competition was not a difficult one to make, given its benefits to local fans, athletes,

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

Game-fixing in the PBA reared its head again.

It was during the commissionership of our good friend, the late Rudy Salud, that this dirty money making scheme by a Binondo-based syndicate, was acknowledged in the eighties.

Salud, being the astute lawyer-gentleman that he was, ably parried the dirty blows that threatened the very existence of Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

We may or may not lent this latest negative news leak credibility published recently in The Straits Times because the details revealed are too hazy and they defy logic. basketball organizations, and the whole country in general, as it recovers from the nearly three-year pandemic continues.

SMC’s support is bannered by San Miguel Brewery, Inc. — through its San Miguel Pale Pilsen brand —that is also behind the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Magnolia Hotshots and

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel are the two other SMC teams in the PBA.

“We are very proud to have been given this rare opportunity to host the FIBA Basketball World Cup. I think it’s the best time to have a prestigious international competition in the Philippines. After almost three years of the FSMC, P10

Ian Sangalang Is Endangered Specie

The good name of Magnolia Hotshot center Ian Sangalang has been unjustly mentioned as one of the players Singaporean businessman Koa Wei Quan attempted to reached out to fix a match sometime in 2018 yet.

The offer of $5,000 was reportedly made but there was no mention if the money was accepted and received.

In another vein, 3x3 player Almond Vosotros was also cited during his stint in the Thiland Basketball League in 2018.

In a media interview during the pre-departure SEAG send off where Vosotros was a key member of the Ph 3 x 3 squad last Monday, he said: “First of all, I was surprised…everyone knows I played in Thailand in 2018. And honestly, I have no knowledge about it and I will never do it.’

Sangalang and Vosotros have since vehemently denied the allegation.

Both cagers are reportedly in consultation with their respective lawyers and may file suits against the Singaporean and his cohorts who leaked the allegation.

As this was being written, PBA officialdom is agog because the game-fixing rumor is not too light to ignore but needs to be given their fullest attention.

Sangalang is at the peak of his PBA career. He reportedly receives the max PBA salary of P420,000/month.

Multiplied by P50, the $5,000 offer translates to P250,000 at that time.

Would a player of Sangalang’s caliber accept such a miniscule reward to fix a game where gamblers and syndicates know millions change hands abruptly just like that?

This defies logic.

Even then, the harm has been done. Poor Ian. He does not know what hit him.

Koa has since been reportedly charged with 14 counts of graft in Singapore for allegedly offering bribes to players in the PBA and the TBL.

What we hope and expect from the PBA leadership is for Com. Marcial to form a PBA task force that will immediately get down to the bottom of this “freak’ episode.

Question: Are there sectorsdomestic or foreign - envious of the tremendous success the PBA is reaping at the gates who want to destroy it? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOPD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!