MVP Sports Foundation denies owning Ateneo basketball team

THE MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) has denied owning the Ateneo men’s basketball team, clarifying that its role is limited to supporting teams through funding.

“The MVPSF has long supported the Ateneo men’s basketball team, along with many other collegiate and national sports campaigns, programs, and athletes,” MVPSF President Alfredo S. Panlilio said in a media release on Tuesday.

The MVPSF said that it supports all sport programs, noting that it does not own or manage the Ateneo men’s basketball team.

“The foundation does not own or manage the Ateneo men’s basketball team. It does not run the team’s programs’ and athletes’ management, coaching, recruitment, and player development,” Mr. Panlilio said.

The statement came after the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said that it has issued a subpoena against officials of Smart Communications, Inc. over the drowning of two student-athletes of Ateneo de Manila University.

The foundation has also clarified the role of Christopher “Epok” Quimpo, an employee of Smart Communications and the team manager of Ateneo men’s basketball team, saying that Mr. Quimpo serves the basketball team in his own personal capacity.

“But we understand he has served with the Ateneo men’s basketball team in his own personal capacity over the past full decade — as an alumnus of Ateneo, and as a former member of the Ateneo men’s basketball team, who was invited by Ateneo to be its team manager. In that engagement, he has always been under the authority and direction of the university and its officials,” Mr. Panlilio said. Furthermore, MVPSF said that it continues to offer and provide for the development of Filipino athletes.

“We stand with all Filipinos not only in mourning the deaths of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia, but in working to surface all truths behind this tragedy, reaching out to their families, and affirming our continuing mission to use sports as a platform for Filipinos to achieve excellence and pursue their dreams,” Mr. Panlilio said.

Smart is the wireless unit of PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Ashley Erika O. Jose