IN a rare moment, the two biggest movers in Philippine sports sat next to each other at courtside and relished one thing that binds them aside from big business.
Manny V. Pangilinan and Ramon S. Ang watched the opening games of the 2023 FIBA World Cup together at the Philippine Arena on Friday, a rare sight for two titans of business with rival blocs in the PBA.
Pangilinan is CEO of Metro Pacific Company Limited and chairman emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), while Ang is president and CEO of San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
Ang, wearing his signature baseball cap, was the first to arrive in the venue, and was welcomed by SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua.
READ: Italy made to sweat by Angola
The two SMC executives were later joined at courtside by SBP president Al S. Panlilio, Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president and congressman Robbie Puno, and PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas.
A few minutes later, Pangilinan and his entourage that included gymnastics association president Cynthia Carrion and weightlifting federation head Monico Puentevella, also arrived at the venue and was led to center court by Vargas to meet Ang at halftime.
The two exchanged pleasantries, shook hands, and then sat together to watch the matches, initially between Angola and Italy, which the Azzurri won, 81-67, and later between Gilas Pilipinas and Dominican Republic won by the Dominicans, 87-81.
SMC came on board last April to become an official partner in the country’s co-hosting of the World Cup.
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