MANILA, Philippines – The MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) denied the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) claims that it is the foundation “autonomously and independently” running the Ateneo men’s basketball team amid ongoing investigations into the deaths of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

In a statement on Tuesday, June 16, MVPSF president Alfredo Panlilio clarified that it only provides financial support to the Blue Eagles — rebutting the CIDG’s allegations that it funds the team and handles its program planning.

“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,” Panlilio said.

Panlilio also attested that while Epok Quimpo is an employee of MVPSF’s affiliated company Smart Communications, his work with the Ateneo men’s basketball team has always been of his own discretion.

MVPSF is a non-profit sports development organization owned by the Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) Group of Companies, which Smart Communications is a part of. Quimpo — who was the longtime manager of the Ateneo men’s basketball team — currently works as a sports marketing manager for the telecommunications company.

“Mr. Epok Quimpo is an employee of Smart Communications. 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,” MVPSF stated.

Quimpo had resigned from his post on Monday, June 15, alongside Ateneo men’s basketball team coach Tab Baldwin.

“The MVP Sports Foundation stands by all it has offered and provided for the development of Filipino athletes. And 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,” the foundation added.

This comes after CIDG Director Major General Robert Alexander Morico II said that officials of Smart Communications will be served subpoenas to “help shed light” on the details of the incident that took the lives of Baterbonia and Adili.

The CIDG is the investigation arm of the Philippine National Police.

According to Ateneo, the two players drowned after being swept away by strong currents while taking part in a conditioning exercise in the waters of Dipaculao, Aurora. However, the CIDG is looking into the possibility of their deaths counting as homicide or a form of hazing. – Rappler.com