Ybañez warns Cebuanos of bogus basketball tournament illegally carrying M. Lhuillier name

M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF) executive director Eddie B. Ybañez has warned the Cebuano sports community not to participate in a basketball tournament that illegally carries the name of M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala as one of its corporate backers.

Ybañez issued this statement after seeing some flyers advertising a supposed Summer Basketball Challenge 2008 in which sports apparel manufacturer Accel and M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala have been named as co-presentors.

Ybañez said the MLSDF, M. Lhuillier’s implementing arm in all its sports development projects for over a decade now, is not organizing such kind of event or any related activities this summer.

M. Lhuillier through its marketing manager Michael Roma has also denied involvement in the said summer tilt.

“I would like to let the public know that MLSDF is not spearheading this Summer Basketball Challenge. We are not, in any way, involved in the organization of this tournament and I am discouraging everyone from taking part in it,” said Ybañez.

What drew the ire most of Ybañez was the unauthorized use of M. Lhuillier’s name by the “shady” people behind the event in promoting the tournament. He assured to get the bottom of this fiasco and seek legal remedy against the erring parties.

“By all ways and means, we will go after those unscrupulous individuals who are falsely carrying the name of M. Lhuillier in a brazen attempt to extort money from their would-be victims. This fraudulent act should not be condoned and I’ll make sure those who masterminded it will not go unpunished under the arms of the law,” said Ybañez, a retired police inspector.

Ybañez urged those who have already registered for the tournament may report the matter to the M. Lhuillier marketing office and look for Mike Roma.—EBV