The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has revoked the professional licenses of five former Bacolod MassKara players and permanently disqualified them from participating in professional basketball games sanctioned by the board following an investigation into their July 28 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) game against the Bulacan Kuyas.
In its Sept. 16 decision, the GAB Professional Sports and Games Division found five of the nine respondents liable for conduct unbecoming of professional athletes, according to the Bacolod City Communications Office.
The investigation followed a request from Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya after Bacolod MassKara lost to Bulacan, 100-64, in a game that drew allegations of possible manipulation.
Bacolod went scoreless in the final 7:48 of the fourth quarter and committed several turnovers while missing scoring opportunities during the closing minutes.
GAB said there was sufficient evidence that the five players, who were on the court for most or all of the period under scrutiny, failed to demonstrate the level of professional play expected of its licensees.
The board dismissed the charges against the four other respondents.
The four had denied allegations of game-fixing and attributed the team’s poor performance to factors including exhaustion, injuries, lack of practice and delayed salaries.
A copy of the GAB decision was furnished to Gasataya’s office on Sept. 21.
The decision cited conduct unbecoming of professional athletes; the city government’s statement did not indicate that the five players were found liable for game-fixing.
The MPBL had earlier removed Bacolod MassKara from the remainder of its 2026 season and imposed league sanctions following the game.
Gasataya also wrote to MPBL management seeking clarification on the ownership of the Bacolod MassKara franchise and its authority to use the name “MassKara.”
The mayor cited City Ordinance No. 1020, or the MassKara Cultural Property Rights Ordinance, which recognizes the MassKara Festival and MassKara Dance as important cultural properties of Bacolod City.
He also sought clarification on whether the team had properly coordinated with the city government regarding its use of Bacolod’s name and identity.
Gasataya said accountability and transparency were necessary to protect public trust in professional basketball and the reputation of Bacolod City.*
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