MANILA – The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) suspended Pampanga Giant Lanterns’ Mark Cruz and Michale Juico after being placed under investigation for game-fixing allegations.
In a memo released by the MPBL, Cruz and Juico have been declared “persons of interest” following their subpar showing for the Giant Lanterns in their North Division semifinal defeat to the San Juan Knights.
“Pursuant to MPBL’s serious drive against game-fixing and all other scheming activities thereto, and MPBL’s serious thrust on clean and credible basketball, 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 possibly performed by players Michael Juico and Mark Cruz during the semifinals series game opposite San Juan,” the league wrote.
The league added that it expects both Cruz and Juico, together with the Giant Lanterns management that is backed by the ADG Group of Companies of Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, to cooperate in the investigation.
Juico was Gian Lanterns’ leading scorer after averaging 14.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. It earned him an MPBL All-Star slot. Cruz, on the other hand, normed 11.1 points, 8.3 dimes, 4.3 boards and 1.8 steals this season.
The Giant Lanterns were swept in the best-of-three semifinals series against the Knights.
The NBI has been closely monitoring the MPBL games since its founder, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, filed game-fixing raps against 21 members of the Soccscksargen Marlins./PN
