Photo shows: OKBet and MPBL formally sealed their partnership in a bid to support the growth and development of sports in the country and bring quality entertainment to all Filipinos. The contract signing was led by Mr. Robert Chen, OKBet Vice President for Marketing & Business Development (3rd from left), and, Mr. Kenneth Duremdes, MPBL Commissioner, (center). They were joined by Atty. Ma. Victoria Gilera and Mr. Kevin Lim from OKBet, as well as Mr. Joseph Paulo Ramos, Atty. Glenn Gacal, Mr. Emerson Chua from MPBL.
OKBet, a multi-industry company primarily providing leisure, entertainment, and gaming solutions, recently announced its partnership with the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), the country’s largest regional basketball league.
Carrying out its mission of championing next-generation Filipino athletes, OKBet was named as the title sponsor of the MPBL for its fourth regular-season this year. The company joins Xtreme Philippines who is the co-presenter of the current season. The breakthrough partnership between OKBet and MPBL was sealed during a recent signing ceremony held at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila led by MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes. A ring ceremony followed to recognize the winning MPBL teams in the previous season of the league.
“The Philippines is a basketball-loving nation. We can see the Filipinos’ passion for the sport in every corner of the country with basketball hoops standing tall at each end of the court. Many consider this sport as a way of nurturing good sportsmanship and companionship among young aspirants and so we want to contribute to its development,” said Mr. Robert Chen, OKBet Vice President – Marketing & Business Development.
On top of being the title sponsor of the event, OKBet is also backing up three (3) teams in the league namely the Marikina Shoemasters, GenSan Warriors, and Sarangani Marlins who are competing against nineteen (19) other teams from the different regions in the country.
“We see the value of partnering with MPBL and we want to empower our athletes to help them realize and reach their full potential. This is our way of supporting the growth of future world-class Filipino sports champions,” continued Chen.
Mr. Kenneth Duremdes, MPBL Commissioner, expressed, “We are very happy to have OKBet as part of our MPBL family. The past two years have been a very challenging time for the MPBL and had to postpone the fourth regular season in light of the recent pandemic. But through this partnership with OKBet, we are making a big comeback to showcase the best city and provincial basketball teams in the country. The goal of our founder, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, is not just to provide opportunities for our players, but also to give Filipino basketball fans quality entertainment and a source of inspiration during these challenging times.”
Duremdes adds that the league also works with other entities and relevant government agencies like the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) to help in ensuring the integrity of games.
Mr. Chen furthered that this initiative is just the beginning of OKBet’s strong commitment to support the sports industry in the country and more collaborations with other institutions can be expected. OKBet is set to launch a web platform and mobile app in the first half of 2022, giving sports and gaming enthusiasts a venue to elevate their love for sports and games. OKBet is likewise a trusted partner of the Philippine government in promoting regulated gaming. This year, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) accredited OKBet as a sports betting service provider. As it strengthens its holistic entertainment platform, the company also ensures the integrity of its system and services through data privacy, Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, and utmost security.
“We want to give back to the Philippine market by strengthening the development and promotion of sports teams and grassroots development programs in the country starting with the MPBL. We will also work closely with the LGUs as we help foster the next generation of Filipino athletes,” Mr. Chen concluded.