MANNY V. Pangilinan on Tuesday was one of the key figures in a press conference to formally announce that Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, or collectively known as TVJ, will now be with TV5.
Pangilinan is chairman of Mediaquest Holdings, which recently reached a partnership agreement with TVJ Productions Inc. that includes the production of a noontime show on TV5.
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In a part of the press conference attended by entertainment reporters, Pangilinan said he didn’t have any hesitation in offering the showbiz icons a new home following their controversial exit from TAPE Inc., the company that produced Eat Bulaga! which the TVJ had hosted since 1979.
Pangilinan added a basketball context to the recent events, comparing the desire to bring TVJ to TV5 after the controversy to how his company has supported Gilas Pilipinas and basketball through the years.
Pangilinan is the chairman emeritus of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and a member of the all-powerful Fiba Central Board.
“Maybe the best analogy that I can provide you (is) nung na-iinvolved kami sa mga basketball ng Pilipinas,” said Pangilinan, speaking to the TVJ, in his closing statement in the press conference.
“And we received comments from our colleagues in the basketball industry na, bakit ang laki ng gastos niyo sa pagsuporta nyo sa Gilas and yet alam niyo naman na maliliit ang Pinoy, hindi tayo mananalo, we will never become world champions at least not during our lifetime.”
“My answer was very simple. Mahal ng Pilipino ang basketball. Puwede ba naming talikuran ang minamahal ng Pinoy?”
“Ganun din sa Eat Bulaga, di ba? We are not going to turn our back,” said Pangilinan.
The Sottos also have connections to sports with Tito being a World Cup veteran as a former bowler and currently the chairman of the Philippine Bowling Federation.
Vic Sotto’s son-in-law is former Gilas Pilipinas player Marc Pingris.
The Sottos are also avid golfers.
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