SPORTS PATRON and business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) has returned into the arms of his alma mater after a few months of separation.
Pangilinan had opted for “complete and total disengagement from the Ateneo” last September 21 after pointing to numerous differences with the university, primarily on the issue of mining, in an email to University President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ that has been made public.
In the email, Pangilinan stressed the “irreconcilable differences” between his and the Ateneo’s stand on mining, and also the RH bill.
However, last November 26, Villarin issued a memo regarding the meetings he and Pangilinan had held following the parting of ways. The memo stated that they had been meeting in an effort to move forward and create a more open and constructive partnership.
“In the last game, I invited him and [was] reaching out to him. I met with him one-on-one and we talked about it: ‘[Let’s] learn from this and put the past behind us,’” Villarin said in a phone call with The GUIDON.
The memo said that their dialogue touched upon various matters “both immediate and long-term” that involve the Ateneo, one of which was the selection of the new head coach of the Blue Eagles.
Villarin said, “We will institute mechanisms for future similar situations so we can keep communication lines open when it comes to matters of principle.”
New head coach
Villarin announced that Bo Perasol would be the new head coach of the Blue Eagles effective December 1.
The Search Committee had recommended Perasol as its nominee for the said post. Villarin noted that the decision was arrived at after several dialogues between him and Pangilinan. “MVP offered to arrange for me to meet with Coach Bo Perasol so that we could reconsider our mutual termination of an earlier agreement.”
Last September, Villarin entered into a contract with Perasol, which paved the way for the latter to be the Blue Eagles head coach after UAAP Season 75.
Perasol had wanted to become coach earlier, but both parties agreed it would be best for the team to undergo the change after the season was over. This was decided so as not to distract the team and the coaching staff, especially since it was former Head Coach Norman Black’s last season.
This contract, however, did not anticipate Pangilinan’s departure. It was just assumed that Pangilinan would still be with the Ateneo, so when the business tycoon cut ties with the Ateneo last September, both Perasol and Villarin mutually agreed to release each other from the contract.
Sports Endowment Fund
Villarin then encouraged the Ateneo community to continue supporting the Sports Endowment Fund (SEF), previously called the Basketball Endowment Fund (BEF).
He decided to expand the scope and mission of SEF to include all athletic programs beyond basketball. “We believe in the wisdom of the SEF being the umbrella capital fund which will sustain our athletes and sports programs for the long term,” the memo read.
“The Ateneo de Manila will supervise this fund with the appropriate governance and management systems to ensure the smooth running of all our athletic programs. Under Fr. Nemesio Que, SJ, the team tasked with oversight of the SEF has begun their work,” the memo continued.
“It will have to be a combo of operational and capital funding. We are still consolidating budgets of all the sports to see how much is needed. The UAO is working closely with us. There will be a board that will help manage it. Fr. Nemy will be heading the board,” Villarin explained.
He said that it was his idea to maintain the fund, especially since the response had been positive from alumni. “Basketball gets the lion’s share of the fund, but I want to give the other fund to the other sports programs.”
According to the memo, Pangilinan agreed to infuse the fund with a significant donation.
When asked about the allocations, Villarin said, “It will boil down to how we [are] able to consolidate the budget [or the] amount of money needed for all the different sports.”
MVP’s comeback
Director of the University Athletics Office Ricky Palou shared that the UAO as a whole is pleased that this came about. “As we were about to launch the Basketball Endowment Fund (BEF), Fr. Jett [Villarin] has decided to replace it with the Sports Endowment Fund that will cover not only basketball but all sports,” he said.
He added, “Atenean basketball players should look forward to MVP coming back to support them. They should continue to work hard, play for the Ateneo community as a whole and win victories for the Ateneo.”
Blue Eagle Kiefer Ravena said in a text message, “It’s very uplifting for us, especially [because] it’s MVP who’s done so much for the team. It’s very motivating for the players. We have more reasons to win next year.”
Villarin appealed to the Ateneo community to continue supporting the Ateneo athletics program, especially with the SEF now in place to help different sports teams.
With reports from Mateo L. Escueta
