THROUGH thick and thin, the partnership between the University of the Philippines and Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI) has stood the test of time.
And that won't be changing any time soon, as the two signed a renewed pact on Monday.
"This is our 16th year of sponsoring the MBT (UP men's basketball team). This is about giving back to your school because you owe your success to your school," said RRHI chair Robina Gokongwei-Pe.
Through Gokongwei-Pe, Robinsons became a partner to UP in 2010, as the Fighting Maroons trudged through a handful of winless and one-win campaigns.
Still, Gokongwei's love for her alma mater stood strong, and she finally reaped what she sowed when State U put an end to a 21-year Final Four drought and 32-year finals absence in UAAP Season 81.
Then in 2022, the maroon-and-green broke through for its first title since 1986 before following it up with back-to-back silver medals and another championship in the three years since.
"They predated the formation of nowheretogobutUP. They believed first before we believed," said Jed Eva, chair of the alumni formation that has become the backbone of Fighting Maroons sports since 2014.
Just like RRHI's support never wavered no matter what, so is UP's gratitude limitless to its 'Grand Ninang.'
"Si maam Bina (Gokongwei-Pe), lagi niyang sinasabi, manalo, matalo, mahal pa rin niya ang team. And that has been true for nearly two decades now," said Office for Athletics and Sports Development Dir. Dolriech "Bo" Perasol.
"Without our sponsors and alumni, especially maam Bina, this team wouldn't exist. The players themselves know na kung wala sila, we won't get the necessary experience we need to compete," said Fighting Maroons assistant coach Christian Luanzon, as backers have funded the team's overseas trips to Serbia and Korea in the past years.
Top dog for Top Breed
At the same time, Universal Robina Cor. Agro-Industrial Group (URC-AIG), with its pet food brand Top Breed, pledged its continued support for UP MBT.
"We're so proud to be part of this journey. What more can we say," said URC-AIG managing director Vincent Henry Go.
READ: Padrigao to sit out UST season opener vs UP owing to suspension
The Fighting Maroons begin their title defense on Sep. 21 against University of Santo Tomas on the latter's home court, the Quadricentennial Pavilion.
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