Ian Sangalang to file case against game-fixing accuser

Ian Sangalang will take the necessary legal action against a Singaporean businessman who implicated the Magnolia center of alleged game-fixing during the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup finals between the Hotshots and eventual champion San Miguel.

The 31-year-old native of Lubao, Pampanga denied knowing Koa Wei Quan, the former owner of transportation firm Koa Motor who is facing 14 graft charges in the State Courts in Singapore for tampering with game results in the PBA and the Thailand Basketball League (TBL) between the months of April and July of that same year.

Sangalang insisted that he neither knows nor has been introduced to the Singaporean.

“Hindi ko kilala yung tao na yun. Hindi totoo yun,” Sangalang told league commissioner Willie Marcial after the two talked on Monday.

“Hindi ko ipagpapalit ang career at dangal ko sa ganung bagay,” added the 2nd overall pick of the 2013 draft.

In a report that came out of the Singapore-based The Straits Times, Koa allegedly offered Sangalang a bribe of $5,000 to drop Game 5 of the Philippine Cup title series by 9 points or more.

The Beermen won the game in double OT, 108-99, to clinch the championship. Sangalang played for 49 minutes and finished with 11 points on a woeful 4-of-13 shooting to go with a game-high 8 turnovers.

Marcial said that the league will continue to investigate the matter.