With the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup being the only league playing in the country right now, all eyes were on the game between the Siquijor Mystics and the ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu City Heroes on Wednesday afternoon.
However, viewers—especially PBA personalities—did not like what they saw as the game featured a bevy of flubbed wide open layups, bricked free-throw attempts, lackadaisical defense and mindless turnovers. The game ended up becoming highly controversial as the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) bore down and is currently conducting an investigation because of the unusual events of the match.
Notable basketball personalities led by NLEX star Kiefer Ravena shared his two cents on the game, expressing concern over the game’s effect on the young people who were watching it.
"Sana hindi tularan ng mga bata, lalo na sa Visayas at Mindanao kasi para sa kanila yang ligang yan. Para meron silang sarili nilang liga. Nakakatuwa na ganon ang growth ng basketball, pero kung ganito ang gagawin nila, sana puyat lang sila, kulang sa extra work, masa ang gising o kahit anong dahilan at hindi dahil sa mga comments ng karamihan ng tao (I hope the kids won’t follow this especially the ones from the Visayas and Mindanao because the league was made for them. So that they would have their own league. I’m happy to see the growth of basketball but if this is what they’re doing, I hope that they only lack sleep, or maybe lack extra work, or just got up on the wrong side of bed)," he said.
Magnolia ace Paul Lee said the players of the VisMin Cup should cherish the opportunity they have right now.
"Maraming player nawalan ng trabaho ngayong pandemic, at gustong-gusto maglaro, kayo yung mga pinagpala para makapaglaro tapos ganyan. Hindi ako perfect sa laro pero madaming questionable dito para sakin(There are lots of players that lost jobs because of the pandemic that would like to play but y’all are the ones lucky enough to play and then y’all do that? I’m not perfect but there are lots of dubious things from this game)," Lee said.
Lee’s teammate Rome dela Rosa said the game was sickening to watch, adding that it wasn’t a great example to the youth who are aspiring to play next level basketball.
“This is sickening. This shouldn't have a place in this game we love. Not great for the young generation coming up," said dela Rosa.
NorthPort star Robert Bolick, meanwhile, was saddened to see the game being disrespected, saying, “So sad to see! Disrespected the game that we love."
Meralco big man Raymond Almazan posted a lengthy tirade of his thoughts of the game, sharing, “Mga kuya naman, tatanda niyo na, matanda pa kayo sakin! Kahit 'yung mga ballboy namin kayang ishoot yan eh. Binababoy niyo yung laro and daming players na gusto ng trabaho tapos kayo naka-live pa at the same time may mga batang nanunuod sa inyo. (Y’all are already old, even older than I am. Even our ballboys can make those free-throws. It’s disrespectful to see all of that being done live where kids are probably watching.)
“Siguro naman may mga anak din kayong nanunuod ng laro niyo tapos bababuyin niyo lang 'yung basketball at kung ako nagkakamali, semi-pro yan mga kuya. Bilang isang basketball athlete at pro player, napakawalang respeto ng ginawa niyo sa liga niyo at sa mga taong buhay ang basketball (I assume y’all have kids that also play and then, you just disrespect the game like that. As a basketball player, it’s just disrespectful what y’all are doing to the league and to the people who are making a living off of this game)," Almazan said. (JNP)