MANILA — The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) announced on Tuesday a long-term partnership with Chooks-to-Go.
The newly-formed alliance will see the fast-rising regional league teaming up with the roasted chicken brand as part of the latter’s continuous support to athletes.
“We are committed to sponsoring this league for five years,” said Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. (BAVI) President Ronald Mascariñas during a press conference at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong.
“This is just the beginning of a strong and long partnership between the MPBL and Chooks-to-Go. We all know that Chooks-to-Go has been helping in sports development. Helping us is their way of helping a very successful business venture for me,” added MPBL owner Manny Pacquiao.
Now on its third season, the MPBL has become an avenue for then-unknown players to showcase their talents on a wider audience through the arena crowd and on national television.
In fact, it helped the likes of Manila’s Aris Dionisio in boosting their stock value for the PBA draft. Dionisio was eventually selected in the first round of the said draft.
Also, two other former MPBL players, Batangas City’s Rey Suerte and Basilan’s Allyn Bulanadi, found their way to the Gilas Cadets pool and were selected among the first five picks of the draft, which were reserved for the Gilas Cadets members.
That is why Pacquiao is ecstatic about this new partnership.
“As the father of the MPBL, I’m very happy that Chooks-to-Go has recognized the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League as a solid league with a bright future ahead of it. It is integral in MPBL’s vision to be the league for every Filipino. And with you, we will be able to help more Filipinos,” he further said.
What further helped the new MPBL-Chooks-To-Go partnership become a reality is that some of the league’s stars are strutting their stuff as well in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 to the point that some of the 31 member teams are putting up 3×3 teams of their own.
In addition, some of the members of the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 pool for the FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament are in the MPBL, as well as Zamboanga’s Alvin Pasaol and Santi Santillan and Batangas City’s Chris De Chavez.
That is why Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 commissioner Eric Altamirano sees the MPBL become bigger with the new partnership.
“Having Chooks-to-Go and the MPBL together and combining their resources and talents will help the league be the best, if not the biggest league. It will also help the Filipino athlete showcase their talents and pursue a better life,” Altamirano said. (PNA)
