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Magnolia veteran slotman Ian Sangalang denied allegations by a Singaporean businessman that he was involved in game-fixing during the Hotshots' Finals series versus the San Miguel Beermen in the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup.
The left-handed Sangalang said he did not know Koa Wei Quan, the Singaporean, who used to own the transportation firm Koa Motor, who in a report by the Straits Times last Friday, faces 14 graft charges in Singapore's State Courts “for influencing games played in the PBA and the Thailand Basketball League between the months of April and July 2018.”
“Hindi ko kilala yung tao na yun. Hindi totoo yun,” Sangalang was quoted by the PBA's official website, after his initial talk with league commissioner Willie Marcial on Monday since the news came out.
“Hindi ko ipagpapalit ang career at dangal ko sa ganung bagay,” added the four-time PBA champion, who intends to take legal action against Koa.
Marcial confirmed to the Manila Times that he was able to talk with Sangalang.
Based on a report published by the Singapore-based media outlet, Koa allegedly offered Sangalang a bribe of $US5,000, while involving two other people- Sergei Bien Orillo and Leonidez Zapata Avenido to influence the outcome of Game 5 of the Philippine Cup title series in 2018 between Magnolia and San Miguel.
The Beermen won the game in double overtime, 108-99, en route to winning the series and capturing the All-Filipino championship.
The 6-foot-7 Sangalang finished with 11 points for Magnolia, going 4-of-13 from the floor. He also shot 3-of-6 from the free throw line and had eight turnovers in what would turn out to be the title-clinching match for San Miguel.
In the same court documents, Koa was said to have worked with Orillo and Avenido again, allegedly offering a bribe of Php 525,000 Philippine pesos to some players from the Blackwater. The alleged deal was for Blackwater to either win by four points or less or lose their match against the Columbian Dyip (now Terrafirma ) in the Commissioner's Cup.
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Credit belongs to : www.manilatimes.net
