By REYNALD MAGALLON
Figuring in countless battles inside the court, the San Miguel Corporation and the MVP Group found themselves working hand-in-hand for a greater cause this time around.
SMC and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas officially forged a historic partnership for the hosting of the 2023 FIBA World Cup in an event at the Makati Diamond Residences on Tuesday, April 25.
SMC Sports Director Al Francis Chua and the SBP President Al Panlilio led the official signing of the partnership along with FIBA World Cup executive director David Crocker, deputy event director Erika Dy, CignalTV president and CEO Jane Basas and JMC Philippines head John Lucas.
Chua said it wasn’t a hard decision for SMC to engage with the venture with no less than its top honcho Ramon S. Ang giving the full blessing to the partnership that is not only seen as a rare collaboration between the two biggest conglomerates in the country but also as a huge step forward for the growth of Philippine basketball.
“Boss RSA loves basketball di niyo nakikita sa game but he loves basketball so much so when he was asked, Boss RSA, he said yes right away and I’m just asking Filipinos na they supported the PBA (Finals), I need the Filipinos to support this,” said Chua who is also the concurrent Gilas executive advisor.
In a statement, Ang said the decision to back the Philippine hosting of the prestigious competition was not a difficult one to make, given its benefits to local fans, athletes, basketball organizations, and the whole country in general, as it recovers from the nearly three-year pandemic continues.
“We are very proud to have been given this rare opportunity to host the FIBA Basketball World Cup. I think it’s the best time to have a prestigious international competition in the Philippines. After almost three years of the pandemic, we want to say that we are open for business, Filipinos are excited to welcome athletes from all over the world, and we are all eager to watch the very best teams play in our homecourt,” Ang said.
SMC’s support is bannered by San Miguel Brewery, Inc. —through its San Miguel Pale Pilsen brand —that is also behind the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Magnolia Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel are the two other SMC teams in the PBA.
Silently supporting the national team from the shadows in the past years, SMC took a step forward, this time, and ready to provide anything the SBP will need to ensure a successful staging of the world meet in August.
“What they need, we’ll support kung ano napagusapan namin nandyan kami sa likod to support, iyon ang bilin sa akin. I’m so happy. This is the first time that I’m gonna work with my tukayo (Panililio), he’s my close friend. I’m excited, really,” said Chua.
San Miguel backed the Philippine team that won 149 gold medals, 117 silvers, and 121 bronzes in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
During the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, SMC also supported the Philippine team that also won the overall championship with 112 golds, 85 silvers, and 93 bronzes.
For Panlilio’s part, the partnership was proof that the two conglomerates, although rivals inside the court, share the same vision in sports.
“We do have shared vision in sports, unity and camaraderie through basketball. As Erika (Dy) said, major corporations supporting the World Cup would ensure success for us in terms of hosting. And this collaboration has been much appreciated,” said Panlilio.
As it stands, the Philippines will be hosting two groups in the preliminary rounds with Gilas playing at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Team USA at the Mall of Asia Arena while the knockout rounds of the tournament will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
