CJ Servillon. Photo from his Facebook page
Officials of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Premier Cup has extended financial help to the family of high school player CJ Servillon who passed away last Sunday.
Tournament Consultant Virgil Villavicencio said in a media conference Wednesday at the Arena in San Juan they have given the Servillons the necessary aid when they visited the family on Monday.
“I said ‘Joey, once the financial assistance is prepared, let’s go,'” Villavicencio said. “Let’s try to help the family.”
Tournament Vice President Mandy Ochoa did not disclose the amount but described it as “figures that can assist” the family.
Servillon was a member of the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers who were playing in the summer tournament.
He died two days after collapsing in the JRU bench during a pre-season game. Servillon was 17.
READ: JRU player passes away 2 days after collapsing in jrs pre-season game
Tournament Commissioner Ato Badolato said Servillon arrived at Cardinal Santos Medical Center at 10:30 Friday morning, 10 minutes after leaving the Arena.
“There was no gap the boy was left without oxygen,” Badolato said.
READ: ‘Swift medical help came for CJ’
He added the JRU-La Salle Zobel game did not push through after Servillon was rushed to the hospital and the Light Bomber’s next game against San Beda Red Cubs was postponed.
Learning lesson
Villavicencio said the unfortunate passing of Servillon serves as a “learning lesson” not only for the Filoil tournament but for other leagues as well.
He proposed that in future cups, or in any league, a standby doctor should be stationed in the arena and not just a team of physical therapists.
Ochoa said the incident should serve as a “wake up call for the universities, schools, and even families” of the players.
The coaches and teammates need to know of each players’ health, Ochoa also said.
Appreciation
Ochoa cleared up that there is no animosity between them and the family of Servillon, especially the player’s grandfather who was adamant of the incident.
“I felt that they’re hurting, but the appreciation was there,” Ochoa said of the visit. “There’s still hope that we can communicate for whatever reason.” CC