It’s over for Bacolod MassKara franchise as they were banned from joining the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) 2026 season, following the alleged game manipulation.
MPBL permanently banned Bacolod’s players and coaches, following the team’s controversial July 28 defeat to the Bulacan Kuyas.
The sanctions came after scrutiny of Bacolod’s 100-64 loss at the Cuneta Astrodome, where the MassKara failed to score a field goal over the final 7:48 of the contest, fueling allegations of possible game-fixing that quickly spread across social media.
In a statement, the league said Red Cards had been issued to those involved.
The league added that “all individuals served with Red Cards are permanently banned from the league” and confirmed that “the franchise’s participation for the remainder of the season has been cancelled.”
The MPBL clarified that the sanctions are administrative while a full investigation remains underway.
“The League stresses that these measures are preventive and administrative as the league will continue its investigation together with relevant government agencies,” it said.
Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya also called for a formal investigation by both the MPBL and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), stressing that Bacolod’s name should never be linked to game-fixing or illegal betting activities.
The MPBL disclosed that the Bacolod franchise had previously been placed under scrutiny, with some team members receiving Yellow Cards earlier this season over separate incidents flagged by the Office of the Commissioner.IMT Sports
