Back in 2002 former DLSU Green Archer Mike Cortez was accused of game-fixing after the Archers lost out to arch-rival Ateneo in Cortez’s worst game ever in the season. No evidence was ever found against him, and the game-fixing angle simply remained a rumor.
In UAAP Season 69 last year, the Green Archers were suspended after school officials admitted that the records of two students were tampered with to allow them admission into the university.
This time it’s game fixing again.
Paolo Orbeta, member of the sister-school DLS-College of Saint Benilde Blazers basketball team, was arrested on allegations of game fixing. Apparently, Orbeta, with several accomplices, are being accused by classmate Wilfred Uy of being in the process of defrauding him of millions of pesos.
It saddens me that members of the DLSU community is embroiled in yet another scandal; lessons should have been learned with the DLSU main campus’ experiences.
Despite this, however, I believe this is yet another opportunity to look into the supposedly amateur sports leagues, which is being manipulated by both alumna and probably even illegal-gambling mafia.
Animo Benilde! Animo La Salle!
8 responses so far ↓
1 sparks // Aug 3, 2007 at 9:28 am
Jon,
My impression is there are a lot of people around the players who entice them with all sorts of offers…and I understand BIG money is often involved.
My students once told me, alumni ang madalas na promotor…tsk tsk tsk. Do you think there’s any truth to this?
2 Jon Limjap // Aug 3, 2007 at 1:32 pm
sparks,
I don’t think it’s true — I know it’s true! Grabe yung investment na ginagawa ng mga alumna to entice this or that highschool grad to join this or that college to strengthen their basketball teams. In fact minsan yung parents nung players ang nagnenegotiate at nagdedecide kung saang school mapupunta yung players.
And then after that the bettings begin. The “Binondo Bettors” is an open secret of the alumni community.
Sa tingin ko talaga there’s too much money flowing through the basketball leagues, so much so that these things happen. If anything maganda din na may naaresto na, pero this is just the tip of the iceberg. Napakalalim niyang problemang yan.
3 Shari // Aug 8, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Actually, the real question is bakit ngayon lang po nagkabukingan (uli). I’ve heard stories na halos “kalakaran” na nga raw po yung ganyan, but I’m not sure coz I’ve never really been interested in UAAP and La Salle. I don’t want to base everything on what I hear alone.
4 Jon Limjap // Aug 9, 2007 at 11:28 am
It’s because ngayon lang siya nagborder sa extortion. It appears that Orbeta was already extorting his classmate. Kaya nagpunta sa NBI yung biktima.
5 Prudence // Aug 9, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Though I was aware of those problems when I was still in DLSU, I didn’t know it already took such a grave turn eversince. Extortion of classmates just because of a basketball game? Now that’s too much. But, anyway, you’re right, Jon, in saying it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Not only the basketball players and coaching team should be investigated, but, most especially, the sponsors of the teams.
6 benj // Aug 12, 2007 at 3:17 am
Im sure mayaman na ang UP players sa dami ng laro na pinatalo nila. Haha
7 tang orange // Sep 10, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Benj, what made you say that? Even as a joke that’s not funny.
Guys, it’s time to clean up our acts!
Historically, DLSU was suspended as early as 1940- for using an ineligible player! Yup same thing as 2004-05, which caused DLSU to be suspended for 2006.
Di ba nakakhiya?
Tapos Orbeta? Sus!
8 Jollibee Philippines // May 1, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Hahaha. I agree with you benj. hahaha
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