News analysis

After match-fixing scandal, Singapore’s National Basketball League is in need of a rebound

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Eng Tat Hornets Russel Low attempts to score in their 72-66 win over Adroit in the 2022 National Basketball League Division 1 final.

PHOTO: ST FILE

Summary

• Singapore basketball is facing issues like match-fixing, gambling, and brawls, highlighted by the CPIB arrests related to NBL games.
• The NBL struggles with administrative flaws, poor support, and publicity, impacting the mens 5v5 scene after the ABL and Slingers closed.
• BAS aims to strengthen education and safeguards, focusing on 3x3 basketball for the Olympics and improving NBL management following the scandal.

AI generated

SINGAPORE – The recent match-fixing scandal that hit Singapore basketball has put the sport and its national league in the spotlight, and with this just one of the issues plaguing the local scene, the community is calling for change to lift it out of the doldrums.

Online betting on games, match-fixing, brawls and administrative issues are some of the problems highlighted by current and former players, coaches and officials whom The Straits Times spoke to.

On Aug 19, the ugly spectre of match-fixing surfaced in the National Basketball League (NBL),as the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau’s (CPIB)

arrested nine individuals for their suspected involvement in fixing games in the domestic competition

Following the arrests, the CPIB said that one of the matches that was allegedly fixed was Tagawa’s 66-43 win over Tong Whye on Aug 1.

ST understands that among those who were hauled in by CPIB were individuals who had placed bets on NBL