Maroons renew ties with major backer

MANILA, Philippines – With UAAP Season 87 basketball just a couple of days away, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons renewed its partnership with the Palawan Group of Companies. 

The two sides signed a memorandum of agreement earlier this week ahead of the season opener this weekend. 

“As the country’s leading and most trusted pawnshop and remittance company, Palawan Group continues to champion its mission of giving back to the community through education and sports development,” the Palawan Group said in a statement. 

The contract signing was graced by Palawan Group of Companies executives, including Lilian Castro-Selda, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer; Korina Castro-Fernando, Chief Human Resources Officer; and Angelita Castro, Deputy Chairman. 

UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol, Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde, UP women’s basketball team coach Paul Ramos, chairman of nowhere to go but UP foundation Jed Eva and UP president Angelo Jimenez were among those who represented the university. 

“As we celebrate our fifth year with the UP Men’s Basketball Team and expand our support to the Junior and Women’s Teams, this partnership reflects our shared roots and strong bond with the UP community and our Alma Mater,” Selda said. 

“The resilience, perseverance, and pursuit of excellence that define UP are the same values that drive Palawan Group. Like the Fighting Maroons, we’ve faced challenges, grown stronger, and stayed true to our mission as we continue to strive to better serve our customers,” she added. 

“We approached PGC five years ago through a common friend. We did not know them personally then but they were all very welcoming, maybe because of the UP connection. As such, they easily extended their support to us and for the past five years, we have felt like we belong to one big family,” UP men’s basketball team manager Atty. Agaton Uvero said. 

“They have built their business from the ground up and succeeded at growing a brand as big and successful as Palawan Pawnshop and the other companies under the Palawan Group. Now, they are giving back to their University and we are really blessed to be the recipients of their generosity,” Perasol, for his part, stressed. 

UP will be opening its season on September 7 against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.