Ever Bilena to handle national women's junior team

Women’s basketball got another shot in the arm after Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc. recently signed an agreement with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) that will make the country’s leading beauty product the main backer of the national junior team.

Under the agreement signed by SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan and Ever Bilena chairman Dioceldo Sy, Ever Bilena is tasked to form and finance the training of the national junior team for the next three years.

“I’m very thankful for Mr. Pangilinan and the SBP for providing us the opportunity to help the national junior team, it’s really a great honor for us to be involved in this kind of endeavor,” said Sy.

According to Sy, their entry into the world of sports is in line with the company’s new tag “Beauty In Sports”.

“This is really a perfect combination,” the former Philippine Basketball League (PBL) chairman said.

Ever Bilena is no stranger to sports, having won three Women’s Philippine Basketball League (WPBL) titles since 1998.

SBP executive director Noli Eala lauded Ever Bilena’s sponsorship of the RP junior team, saying they are “heartened by the fact that we share in the belief of the importance of developing and maintaining an elite and grassroots program for the women’s-youth sector.”

Sy said they will immediately buckle down to work as he named former University of the Philippines star Pat Aquino as the coach of the team with Paul Du and Julie Amos as assistants. Johnson Martinez will be the team manager.

“They are now looking for players and hopefully we can form the team by April,” said Sy.

They will hold their tryouts in late next month before going around in Visayas and Mindanao in March.

Also present during the signing of agreement were SBP chairman Gov. Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental, SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas, Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero and SBP Board trustee Bernie Atienza.