SPORTS patron Jean Henri Lhuillier launched on Wednesday the Cebuana Lhuillier Sports—a vehicle that supports and promotes basketball, tennis, softball and bowling.
Cebuana Lhuillier Sports, Lhullier said, was borne out of his love affair with sports that started many years ago. Its establishment, he added, emphasized his goal to discover more athletes for international competitions.
“We’ve been supporting sports decades ago but, with this, we want to encourage more private support for Philippine sports,” said Lhuillier, president and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier who also chairs the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) and serves as president of the Amateur Softball Association of the Philippines (Asaphil).
Lhuillier said softball has always been a sport where Filipinos would excel in. The organization will be supporting the Blu Boys, runner-up in last year’s Asian Men’s Championships, when they compete in the World Men’s Championship in Canada this June.
The Blu Girls, on the other hand, were solid in last year’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Tennis is also tops in Lhuillier’s list and he is confident the Philippines could return to Group I in the Davis Cup competition.
Tennis Head Coach Roland Kraut and Davis Cup campaigner Francis Alcantara graced the organization’s launch, along with basketball superstars Dondon Hontiveros and James Yap.
Members of the Cebuana Lhuillier team in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League, led by Head Coach Boycie Zamar, and national bowler Enzo Hernandez were also in attendance.
Joel Orellana
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza