PH sports agencies HypeSportspH, EMBM join forces

HypeSportsPH vs EMBM: Paula Punla, Naveen Ganglani, Matthew Manotoc, Marvin Espirutu and Karina Sitaldas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Two sports management agencies in the Philippines have joint forces in a merger announced on Tuesday.

HypeSportsPH and Espiritu Manotoc Basketball Management (EMBM) have teamed up to form HypeSportsPH x EMBM, a partnership agency that will represent an extensive list of the professional and collegiate basketball players in the country.

EMBM was founded by Marvin Espiritu, son of veteran PBA sports agent Danny Espiritu, and Matthew Manotoc, son of PBA Hall of Fame Coach Tommy Manotoc, in 2011 while HypeSports PH was started by veteran agent Paula Punla in 2015.

Some of EMBM agency’s clients include PBA stars Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Jayson Castro, Poy Erram, Alex Cabagnot, Arwind Santos, Matthew Wright, Jason Perkins, and Robert Bolick.

“We’ve always had a friendly relationship with the HypeSportsPH group so we’re looking forward to this mutually beneficial partnership to better serve our athletes,” Manotoc said in a press release.

HypeSportsPH, meanwhile, has the likes of Gomez De Liaño brothers, the Ildefonso Brothers, Raffy Verano, Renzo Subido, Aljun Melecio, John Lloyd Clemente, Will Gozum and Josh Sinclair in their roster of clients.

“We know that as one collective unit our two agencies can reach greater heights together – especially by providing our athletes with a family-like environment where they can feel taken care of,” said Naveen Ganglani, head of public relations of HypeSportsPH.

The agency can assist their athletes in the areas such as contractual negotiations, commercial earnings, social media promotion, marketing and PR consultation, social responsibility, brand development, and career planning.