Lapu-Lapu's Monbert Arong cleared to play in VisMin Cup

The Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup cleared Monbert Arong from the controversial match between his team, Lapu-Lapu Builders, and the Siquijor Mystics.

Arong was included in the initial list of Lapu-Lapu players suspended and fined due to their supposed involvement in the contest.

In a memorandum released on Monday, the league said that Monbert Arong was 'not part of the issue' and it was instead teammate Franz Arong who was found to be involved.

"After thorough review of the game tape by our league and technical officials, between ARQ Lapu-Lapu Builders and the Siquijor Mystics, it has come to our attention that Mr. Monbert Arong is not part of the issue and it was Mr. Franz Arong that was involved," the league said.

With this, Monbert will be cleared to return to play.

Franz, meanwhile, will serve the rest of the suspension until the end of the first round of the tournament. He will also be fined P15,000.

In a separate memo, VisMin Cup also announced the appointment of Chielito Caro as head of basketball operations and Raymon Mercader as a part of the league's technical team.

With their appointment, Caro and Mercader will be working together with technical head Rey Cañete to "oversee the league’s oncourt activities, enforcement of player conduct standards and discipline and to ensure that all teams will be in compliance with the VisMin Super Cup rules and regulations."

The league also said players and coaches should surrender their mobile phones to the technical group, in coordination with the police, for safekeeping. Their phones will be returned afterwards.

The change in designation of officials and the move to surrender phones come days after the league suspended Siquijor Mystics due to the controversial incident.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, over the weekend, condemned what happened in the VisMin Cup and said they are looking at appropriate sanctions for the league and the players involved in the incident.

The Games and Amusements Board on Sunday suspended the Mindanao leg of the tournament and put up the league under re-evaluation. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News