By RAMPADOR ALINDOG
Who knew a night of basketball could dribble into political intrigue?
A set of seemingly harmless courtside photos has Filipino social media bouncing with speculation as it shows former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara with Quezon City Rep. and actor Arjo Atayde.
Supposedly, it was taken at the Smart Araneta Coliseum during Game 7 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals on July 9, only a few months prior to the whole flood control projects issue exploding.
The pictures look like any other celebrity sighting as it also shows actor Zanjoe Marudo (Atayde’s brother-in-law via sister Ria Atayde), and Daniel Padilla.
Except, of course, the internet loves a plot twist.
Within hours, commenters were turning a simple “fan night out” into a potential episode of err, “House of Cards: PBA Edition.”
Some wagged fingers about “suspiciously close ties,” while others dunked on the theory, pointing out that sharing a row at a basketball game is hardly a signed affidavit of corruption.
Note that Alcantara has been implicated in questionable Bulacan flood projects.
Atayde has already denied allegations about his supposed involvement in the same.
No official statements yet from Atayde, Marudo, Padilla, even Alcantara about the night out.
But actress Maine Mendoza, Atayde’s wife, has already swatted away broader rumors, reminding followers that “not all politicians are corrupt—some are just convenient targets.”
