ALAN Peter Cayetano denied there was overpricing of supplies from Asics, the official outfitter of Team Philippines to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chairman spoke on the topic in the midst of questions from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) board on the sponsorship deal of Asics to Team Philippines.
Cayetano explained Asics agreed to become a sponsor of Team Philippines where they will be giving supplies to the national athletes for 400 events that were previously targeted to be played in the 2019 SEA Games.
Cayetano, however, said the number of events for the 2019 SEA Games shot up to 529, leaving Phisgoc with no choice but to ask the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for a request to purchase supplies for the additional 129 events as well as several more for Team Philippines to the 2020 Asean Para Games.
“Unfair naman na sabihin namin sa Asics na baguhin natin ‘yung deal. Pumayag kayo sa 400, pumayag na kayo sa 529. We were looking for a compromise. If you want, we will sell to you,” said Cayetano.
Cayetano said allegations of overpricing came up when detractors compared the unit prices of each supplies being requested to the unit prices of the supplies being sold at stores.
Cayetano said the quality of the product Asics agreed to give to the delegation as part of the sponsorship deal which he described as Olympic-quality is far different from that on that being sold at the market.
The request to the PSC for the additional supplies were reportedly worth P51,511 per set.
“Ang problema, instead of bringing it up to the board, pumunta sila sa retail outlets, naghanap ng discounted outlets. ‘Yung sa outlet, iba sa Olympics (standard) na number,” said Cayetano.
Cayetano said Asics’ entry was a good help for Team Philippines since the bulk of the items were not purchased.
“’Yung mga nagko-comment ng ayaw, saan kukuha ng pera? We were already cut the budget and they should also understand that they can criticize, but we have to deliver. So if their criticism is valid, we have to reform,” said Cayetano.
Cayetano hopes his explanation to the Asics deal will settle the issue once and for all.
“I hope it settles it and I hope Asics and the sporting world is listening because they are valuable sponsors and they don’t deserve the negative publicity,” said Cayetano.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
