MVP, Ateneo reunite in sports deal

MANILA, Philippines - Sports patron and business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan came into terms with Ateneo de Manila University for a renewed "constructive partnership" after a rift over mining last September.

Ateneo President Jose Ramon Villarin issued a memorandum Monday to announce that Pangilinan, who recently made headlines for breaking off his backing for the university, had been in talks to support its sports program anew.

"Over the past few days, Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan and I have been meeting in an effort to move forward and create a more open, constructive partnership. Our dialogue touched upon various matters (both immediate and long-term) that involve Ateneo de Manila," Villarin said in the memo.

Villarin also announced that the five-time UAAP champions Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball team will have Bo Perasol as its head coach, following the resignation of Norman Black after a fruitful eight-year tenure with the Katipunan-based squad.

"MVP offered to arrange for me to meet with Coach Bo Perasol, so that we could reconsider our mutual termination of an earlier agreement," Villarin said.

Perasol, former PBA Powerade Tigers head coach, is set to assume position in December to succeed Black, who left the team after assuming the post as the new head coach PBA franchise, Talk N Text Tropang Texters.

The Blue Eagles are currently competing in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, set to take on UAAP nemesis University of Santo Tomas in a best of three Finals series starting tomorrow.