AMID allegations that the Converge FiberXers is forming a breakaway basketball league, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. CEO Dennis Anthony Uy has emphasized that the company is not in the business of basketball and that he is not interested in participating in such histrionics.
“Converge joined the PBA with the genuine intention of bringing vigor to the league for the greater entertainment of basketball fans across the country as our fiber internet services reached nationwide presence,” said Uy who is currently traveling on business ahead of his participation at the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco to represent the Philippines.
Uy was named Entrepreneur of the Year and Master Entrepreneur at the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines (EOYP) 2022 Awards last November for his pivotal role in bringing digital connectivity to more Filipinos across the country. The EOYP Awards was organized by EY Philippines through the SGV Foundation.
“We believe that having a PBA basketball team would bring us closer to more Filipino homes that we want to serve. We are aiming to become a household name when it comes to world-class connectivity,” Uy said.
He stressed that he is currently focused on making that happen so that majority of Filipinos will receive the benefits of having best quality, reliable, and affordable internet connectivity. Thus, he wanted to appoint people who are knowledgeable and passionate about basketball to represent and manage the Converge FiberXers team.
“I deeply regret the decision of the PBA Board to decline our appointment of Pampanga Governor Delta Pineda as our representative to the Board of Governors. We truly believe that his presence at the PBA Board will only bring more energy and dynamism to the PBA and help the league re-energize its popularity among sports fans,” Uy noted.
It may be recalled that Gov. Pineda had offered his province during the 2020 and 2021 PBA tournaments under a bubble setup at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, demonstrating his love for the game. He was also behind the development of some of PBA’s superstars such as Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang.
Many sports observers have indicated the dampening luster of the PBA with its fan base getting alienated by the SMC-MVP duopoly resulting in declining live gates, with the UAAP getting more ticket sales, and new talents snubbing the PBA draft to play overseas.
“It’s about time that we level the playing field at the PBA. Fairness is a core virtue of sportsmanship. We need to respect our viewers – the Filipino basketball fans. We should give them the sports entertainment that they deserve,” Uy concluded.