The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has suspended the professional license of San Miguel player Daniel de Guzman as he failed to appear in a virtual meeting on Friday, September 24.

GAB wanted to meet De Guzman to discuss his alleged involvement in game-fixing in the PBA.

De Guzman found himself in hot water after screenshots of his supposed conversation with a bettor showing him giving a tip on the outcome of a game in the ongoing Philippine Cup surfaced on social media.

The bettor, though, confronted De Guzman for providing the wrong tip as he lost big money.

“We’re disappointed you did not appear,” GAB chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra told News5 reporter Lyn Olavario.

“[I]’m sorry to say you are blacklisted and will not be allowed to use your professional license until the admin proceedings shall commence and come out with the recommendation whether to revoke your license or not.”

Mitra said GAB will conduct an administrative proceeding, where De Guzman will once again be invited to attend.

If proven guilty, De Guzman may lose his license permanently.

“If you keep on avoiding to appear in proper forums, then what does that mean? There is probably a chance that you are guilty,” Mitra said in a mix of Filipino and English.

“When I am accused of something, in any forum that is available to me, I will appear. I will clear my name.”

Selected 42nd overall by San Miguel in the 2019 Draft, De Guzman suited up for the squad in the 2020 Philippine Cup, seeing action in four games.

De Guzman did not crack the lineup for the all-Filipino conference this year as San Miguel relegated him to its 3×3 team.

Mitra, though, is skeptical that De Guzman will be able to play in the inaugural 3×3 tournament of the PBA.

“[W]ith the suspension of his license and [GAB] blacklisting him, I don’t think San Miguel would even put him in the 3-on-3 lineup, especially that he tarnished the reputation of the San Miguel team as well as the PBA, who are already involved in allegations because of what he said.” – Rappler.com