DEFENDING University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball champions Ateneo Blue Eagles begin their Season 82 campaign armed with its newly forge partnership with LED brand Firefly.
Officially signed on Aug. 28 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo, the partnership will see Firefly LED be part of the journey of the Blue Eagles as they embark on their quest for a third straight UAAP title.
The partnership also involves support for the Ateneo Lady Eagles, which finished sixth in the race last season, and the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, which finished runner-up in Season 81.
Present in the signing ceremony were Ateneo de Manila University’s Assistant to the President for University Athletics Fr. Nemesio S. Que SJ and University Athletics Director Emmanuel T. Fernandez, and Firefly Electric and Lighting Corp. Marketing Director Erik Riola and Assistant Brand Manager Christine Reyes.
Ateneo officials said they welcome Firefly coming on board in their campaign for the about-to-begin UAAP season, which officially starts on Sept. 1, hoping it will be the first of many tie-ups with the LED brand.
“This is yet a start, hopefully, for a longer partnership we are looking at in the future,” Mr. Fernandez said.
On the part of Firefly, the partnership with Ateneo is a continuation of its thrust of supporting local sports and teams, and aligning with groups it identifies and shares a common vision with.
“Firefly has been sponsoring premier basketball league for several years now. We consider basketball as one of our equities because it is very much aligned with our core target market,” said Mr. Riola, whose group prides itself in being the first local lighting brand certified by TUV SUD, a world-renowned German Testing Institute that certifies the quality and safety of various consumer products.
Season 82 of the UAAP begins on Sunday with ceremonies to be hold at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Blue Eagles play their first game on Sept. 4 against the Adamson Soaring Falcons at 4 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
