The UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development (OASD) under the UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor and nowheretogobutUP (NTGBUP) recently renewed their partnership with the STATS Technical Sportswear (STATS), a subsidiary of Januarius Holdings Inc. (JHI)—a long-time sponsor and supporter of the UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT), through a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
The MOA states, among others, that STATS will be the official outfitter of the UPMBT as well as other UP varsity teams at the Season 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). UP is the host university of the UAAP Season 87.
STATS is a Filipino brand that manufactures high-performance technical sportswear specifically designed for tropical climate.
Signing the MOA on Aug. 16 at the Executive House were OASD Director Dolreich Perasol, JHI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) JJ Atencio, NTGBUP Chair Jed M. Eva, and UPMBT Team Manager Agaton O. Uvero.
Perasol said Atencio had been helping UPMBT even when he was still the team’s head coach.
“This is our eighth season with Sir JJ,” said Perasol. “He has been our support [especially] during those hard times,” he added.
Meanwhile, Edrin Jahdiel Panganiban, STATS CEO and head of the apparel design and development, said they developed a new fabric for their sportswear that is durable and soft.
The aeroflex fabric, attached to the back of the jersey, absorbs more moisture. Panganiban designed the jersey himself.
“And then there is this, our newly developed agile latch, ito iyong sa arm holes and neck holes nila. On these parts, kailangan na snug iyong fit ng jersey. Iyong sa likod at sa harap ng jersey, it floats, making them move better. I believe that when players feel good and look good, they play good, but when players feel great and look great, they play great,” Panganiban explained.
Also present at the MOA signing were UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, UP Executive Vice President Jose Fernando T. Alcantara, NTGBUP President Aruba Flores-Opida, Eva, Uvero, and other NTGBUP board members.
In a related development, the UAAP and Akari Lighting and Technology Corporation (Akari) signed a MOA to construct a state-of-the-art facility at the Bridgetown in Pasig City.
The planned arena will have a 6,000-seating capacity and is targeted to be completed and operational for the UAAP Season 90.
The MOA was signed by UAAP Executive Director Rene Saguisag Jr., UAAP Season 87 Chairman and UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, UP Board and Managing Director (BMD) Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, Adamson University BMD Fr. Aldrin Suan, and Akari CEO Christopher Tiu. The MOA signing was held on Aug. 20 at Atencio-Libunao Hall.
