‘Swift medical help came for CJ’

CJ Servillon. Photo from his Facebook page

OFFICIALS of a preseason basketball league said Tuesday proper emergency medical assistance were given Carl Jimwell “CJ” Servillon, the Jose Rizal University high school basketball player who collapsed on court and died two days later.

Organizers of the Filoil-Flying V Hanes Premier Cup said the on-site medic immediately attended to Servillon before he was rushed to the hospital.

Servillon’s relatives, however, told reporters that the league had been negligent.

“Our rescue team did everything they could,” tournament director Joey Guillermo said yesterday. “They made sure he reached the hospital alive. We understand that the family is looking for answers.”

The cause of death of Servillon, who was only 17, remains undetermined.

League officials attended Servillon’s wake yesterday and had a dialogue with the family.

Servillon collapsed during a timeout in the Light Bombers’ game versus De La Salle Zobel on Friday morning.

The game was stopped as medics tried to revive him. He was taken to Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital, where he died Sunday night.

“From the time the rescue team came to assist him to the time he was brought to the ambulance, it was just four minutes,” said Guillermo. “They were able to reach the hospital in six minutes.”