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

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 Sunday Times spoke to.

Gambling prevalent in local, regional basketball

On Aug 19, the ugly spectre of match-fixing surfaced in the National Basketball League (NBL), as the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (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 games on illegal gambling sites, and those who were suspected of fixing league games.

And it appears that gambling on games is not a new development.

Sources told ST that in the NBL’s early days, when matches were played at the Gay World Amusement Park before it was torn down in 2001, betting on games was prevalent when “the teams were run by the towkays (bosses), who would bet among themselves on whose team would win”.

A club official, who has been in local basketball for decades but spoke only on condition of anonymity, said: “Fans were betting on the games too, but I don’t think there were syndicates. The towkays would incentivise their own players to play their best by promising them good win bonuses, but after the new clubs and club leaders took over, there were less of such practices.

“Currently, basketball match-fixing is more rife and blatant in some of the regional leagues, and perhaps in recent years, it has migrated to the NBL.”

Former NBL players Poh Wei Hao and Koa Wei Quan were jailed in 2023 and 2024 respectively for their roles in fixing matches in Thailand.

ST reported in August that NBL games were being offered for betting on illegal gambling sites. A check on the Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS) website also showed that the matches are available for live-streaming on a pay-per-view basis for between $2.99 and $3.99 per match.

A current NBL player, who also declined to be named, told ST: “I can’t say for sure, because I’m not in on it, but if you look at some of the games and statistics, you may wonder why some players are suddenly so off-colour. It feels as if they are deliberately not playing at their best.”

There have also been several brawls and minor skirmishes “every now and then” in the league, said another member of the basketball community.

He added: “There were definitely more unsavoury characters back then. There are still altercations this season, but I think this is normal in contact sports when emotions run high.

“Still, such incidents don’t help the image of the league, but looking at it positively, this is a good opportunity for the authorities to clean up the sport and the NBL through education, adequate rules and regulations and a code of conduct.”

‘Match-fixing could kill the sport’

Eng Tat Hornets adviser Neo Beng Siang, a former national coach who coaches the Hwa Chong Institution A Division girls’ basketball team, noted that the NBL is the highest level of domestic competition for local players, after the professional Asean Basketball League (ABL) and Singapore Slingers shut in 2023.

“With the sport remaining very vibrant at schools and youth level, we definitely need to take care of it to send the right message to the young players and parents,” he said.

The 58-year-old former Singapore Slingers coach stressed that stern action needs to be taken to nip match-fixing in the bud, and anyone found guilty of it “should be banned for life because they need to know the severity of what they did and take responsibility for their actions”.

He was also aware that there was online betting on ABL games and shared that the Slingers and Eng Tat players were constantly reminded not to get involved.

Neo added: “It may be legal in some countries but not in Singapore, and it is just not right to be betting on games involving your own team or the league you are playing in. If there is match-fixing and the integrity of the league is compromised, it could kill the sport here.

“If the NBL is suspended as a result and no one gets to play, the players suffer because they no longer have this platform to showcase their abilities, the national team suffer because the national and up-and-coming players won’t be able to play, and parents may not want their children to be involved in basketball any more.”

Launched in 1959 and organised by BAS, the NBL is the platform for local basketball players to compete in and be scouted for the national team. The annual finals are usually played in front of a crowd of more than 500 at the Singapore Basketball Centre in Aljunied.

For the 2025 season, Division 1 – sponsored by K.Star and originally scheduled for July and August – features 10 teams, each paying a registration fee of $1,600. The teams contest a single round-robin tournament, with the top eight progressing to the play-offs. While players do not receive salaries, prize money is awarded to the top three finishers: $4,000 for first place, $2,000 for second, and $1,000 for third.

Division 2, featuring 13 teams, tips off in September, while Division 3 – comprising more than 20 teams – will be staged later in the year. Where applicable, the top two sides are promoted and the bottom two relegated, ensuring movement between the divisions each season.

Issues in national league need to be fixed

Members of the local basketball fraternity have highlighted several areas that the NBL could improve on.

Neo took issue with last season’s tournament format – in 2024, the Division 1 was played in a double round-robin system with no play-offs and Adroit pipped Eng Tat by point difference, which is uncommon in basketball leagues.

At times, teams named only six players in their game day roster, and he hoped to see the organisers stipulate a minimum attendance of 10 to ensure competitiveness.

ST understands that while the rules and regulations were shared with participating Division 1 teams, there was no code of conduct for the players to sign this season. 

However, from Sept 1, all participants are required to sign off on a BAS integrity declaration form, which includes clauses on betting and match-fixing.

The recent match-fixing scandal also exposed flaws in the NBL’s administration. After the CPIB’s announcement and arrests, the BAS decided to proceed with the play-offs from Aug 20, noting that “we do not have concrete evidence that the NBL Division 1 is compromised, and in fairness to the players and teams who have trained hard for this competition”.

While it also stated that any official or player who was arrested would be immediately suspended from all league activities, two suspended Adroit players were subsequently allowed to play in the semi-finals.

After signing declaration letters stating that they were not arrested and were out on bail, the duo played in their 67-52 semi-final win over Siglap on Aug 27. In the other semi-final, Eng Tat edged out SG Basketball 79-73. 

Following this incident, the NBL 1 final was postponed from Aug 30 to Sept 7, with the BAS stating that this could “allow for an internal review and appropriate disciplinary procedures to be carried out thoroughly and fairly”.

A disciplinary committee hearing set for Sept 5 did not proceed “due to unforeseen circumstances”, and the

Sept 7 final has been postponed until further notice

, said the BAS.

Both finalists Adroit and Eng Tat told ST that the BAS should have called off the play-offs after the CPIB probe.

Adroit coach Chan Sian Gay said: “This tournament has become meaningless. If our players get suspended, we will feel wronged; if they play, opponents will feel it’s unfair. Do you think whoever win will feel like the real champions and be proud of the win? 

“We want to be champions by beating the best teams and not win under such circumstances.”

Neo added: “There are many players from different teams implicated, so the integrity of this season’s results is already in doubt, so the league should have ended once the regular season was completed on Aug 17.

“But if the BAS decided to continue, then it should have stuck to the schedule because most of the teams involved are doing this out of passion, coaches and players are taking time off from work to prepare and play.

“The change in schedule is not fair to Eng Tat who do not have players implicated in the case, and the club would have agreed to play against a full-strength Adroit.”

Other gripes that have surfaced include the lack of support for teams and poor publicity for the league.

One club official who declined to be named said: “We pay so much in registration fees to fight for so little prize money, and we are not even covered by insurance. Some supporters also complained about the incomplete updates of match results and data on the BAS website and social media.”

In response to the issues raised by the fraternity, the BAS said that it introduced a new NBL format in 2024 to allow more matches to be played, but reverted to the previous set-up after the response was “not encouraging”. It also reduced the registration fee from $2,800 to $1,600.

Acknowledging that there are “technical glitches” for real-time match scores and data on its website, the association said it is working closely with its vendor to resolve this, while a downloadable file of the NBL table with updated scores is available in the interim.

It also recognised “the need for more stringent standards” for the NBL Division 1 and will review the current requirement for a minimum of two players to start games.

Standard of 5v5 basketball slipping

The issues plaguing the NBL, along with the shutdown of the ABL and Slingers, have affected the men’s 5v5 scene, said Adroit shooting guard and former Slinger Ng Hanbin. Plans to make the NBL semi-professional and field a team in the Taiwanese league have also not materialised.

Although the Slingers programme ended a 34-year SEA Games medal drought with bronzes in 2013 and 2015, the national men’s team have finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in the subsequent four editions.

Ng said: “The NBL is one platform, and it’s not enough. Clubs begin training only once a week, a couple of months before the start of the NBL. All teams have to find their own training ground and most times, we have to train on open courts that are not weather-proof.

“The professional ecosystem that once allowed players to develop, thrive and build camaraderie no longer exists. Especially in challenging times like these, it’s important to unite as a basketball community to create a clear pathway for the next generation of aspiring players.”

While he noted that national team training and overseas allowances have remained at $15 a day for years, he added: “It was never about the money. We prioritised national team training and made sacrifices to commit to the common goal because it is an honour to represent Singapore.

“But now I’m hearing that the national team are struggling to get players in for training or overseas competitions. It’s not about pointing fingers, but we have to acknowledge there are problems and areas to improve. Everybody has to take ownership and be responsible for the sport we claim to love.”

Despite the challenges, there remains significant interest in basketball here.

In July, the BAS announced new sponsor Anta Singapore. In recent years, the Republic has hosted the Fiba Intercontinental Cup and Fiba 3x3 Asia Cup, and the association is now focusing on 3x3 basketball to target Brisbane 2032 Olympic qualification.

Neo said: “While I feel it is not as easy to catch up and succeed in 3x3 as you still need a strong 5v5 foundation to do so, it is good if it ends up providing a professional pathway for local basketballers to show that it is still possible to pursue a playing career in basketball after the ABL and Slingers folded.

“Hopefully, more can also be done to better manage the NBL and create other opportunities for the 5v5 scene.”

BAS’ spokesman said: “We understand the basketball community’s concern regarding the perceived emphasis on 3X3 basketball. This focus is driven by its high-performance potential, particularly for SEA Games success.

“That said, 5v5 basketball remains a priority, and BAS plans to intensify 5v5 development efforts from 2026 as part of our broader multi-year strategy.”