MVP sports foundation vows support for PH athletes in LA Olympics

MANILA – The MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) made an assurance that it will continue to support the Philippine athletes in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

This after the organization, through telecommunication giant PLDT, handed a total of P21 million to the respective teams of the three Filipinos who earned medals in the recent Paris Olympics.

Gymnast Carlos Yulo, who struck gold twice, received P10 million with MVP himself, Manny Pangilinan, personally handing the check on Thursday, while boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio, who won bronzes, were each rewarded P2 million.

Only Yulo was present among the medalists as Villegas and Petecio have since returned home to Tacloban and Davao Cities, respectively.

Their respective coaching staff also got cash prizes with Yulo's team splitting P5 million and the boxers' respective coaching staff each receiving P1 million.

"The glory and pride that Carlos, Nesthy, and Aira brought to our country with the medals they've won in Paris through their training, grit, and effort are priceless indeed. We are very proud of them, and we hope to see them compete once again in Los Angeles in 2028―which we will continue to support fully," said Pangilinan, the MVPSF's chairman emeritus.

The MVPSF helped in financing the needs of 16 Paris Olympians, and the trend should continue in Hollywood in four years.

"The MVPSF will continue to support Filipino athletes in their quest for gold in the Olympics. We've seen it happen with Hidilyn Diaz in Tokyo 2020 and now, we've seen it happen again with Yulo in Paris 2024. We hope that this will inspire more Filipino athletes to strive for their Olympic dreams in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, as well as encourage our partners in both the private and public sectors to continue supporting our young heroes," MVPSF president Al Panlilio said. (PNA)