BIZ BUZZ: Maroons in the land of K-Pop

Thanks to businessman JJ Atencio a.k.a godfather of UP Men’s Basketball Team (UP MBT), the Fighting Maroons are back in the land of K-Pop to hone their skills ahead of UAAP Season 87. This is the second time that the Maroons have gone to Seoul to train (from July 28 to Aug.9).

Atencio—a veteran housing developer who now manages multiple asset classes under his own holding firm, Januarius Holdings Inc.—had sent the team to train in Serbia, Las Vegas (US), Japan and Korea in previous years as part of his long-term commitment to be the Maroons’ “training buddy.”

“They like the training in Korea because it is both games with semi [pro] and pro teams and also court skills training. Experience in other venues would only be either or,” Atencio told Biz Buzz, when asked about the latest training camp.

READ: BIZ BUZZ: Done deal: BPI backs UP Maroons

It was also an opportunity for the team to reunite with former King Maroon Carl Tamayo, now a professional cager at the Korean Basketball League under the banner of Changwon LG Sakers.

“Tamayo and his new club played against the UPMBT in a series of tuneup games as part of the Maroons’ training camp in Korea,” UP MBT announced on Facebook as the team thanked Atencio for his support.

For his part, Tamayo, aside from playing with UP MBT, even hosted dinner for his former teammates and coaches.

Even if he’s an alumnus not of UP but of its rival team from Katipunan, Atencio (together with godmother Robina Gokongwei-Pe and other supporters) has provided a lifeline to UP MBT that made possible the turnaround from an underdog to a formidable team. Athleisure wear maker STATS, also under Januarius Holdings, likewise outfits the Maroons and produces their official merchandise. Among other key corporate supporters of UP MBT are Palawan Express, Robinsons Supermart, TopBreed, Handyman, Converge and most recently, Bank of the Philippine Islands.

“Some may see them as the top dog now, but deep inside, they still have that underdog mentality. They will keep trying and trying and will stay hungry all the time,” said Atencio, as quoted by UP MBT. —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla

More flights to Japan

AirAsia Philippines is taking advantage of travelers’ increasing interest in Japan, setting up its third route to the Land of the Rising Sun.

By Oct. 29, the low-cost carrier will offer Manila-Nagoya flights thrice weekly. It currently services flights to Narita and Osaka.

READ: More Filipino travelers heading for Japan

“Japan is one of the strongest regional markets for AirAsia Philippines. In fact, we’ve already flown 210,000 guests for the first half of 2024,” AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said.

“We are confident we will double the 270,000 guests flown in 2023 with our competitive airfares, more services, better flight timings and world leading service,” he added.

In its study, the airline found out that 65 percent of its guests flying to Japan in the past six months were Filipinos in the 30 to 50 age bracket. Most of them booked their flights within two months of the scheduled trip. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

P1-B land bank up for grabs

Property developers wanting to expand in North Luzon can score new land bank beside a well-developed and exclusive community in Mexico, Pampanga, and near a North Luzon Expressway exit.

This is as the abandoned 20 lots intended for a solar power project of listed Raslag Corp. are now up for bidding, with the firm seeking to get at least P1.06 billion.

Potential bidders can grab more or less 425,100 square meters (sqm) of land area at a base price of P2,500 per sqm, Raslag said. The lots are 8.4 kilometers northwest from Mexico town proper and accessible from San Fernando City.

A prebidding conference has been set for Aug. 8, while the submission of bids will run until Aug. 29.

“Congestion constraints” at the local grid operator’s substation in Mexico had prompted the firm to dispose of the property and find a new location for its Raslag-5 solar power project.

Amid the issue, Raslag found a new home for its 45-megawatt peak solar power project in Hermosa, Bataan.

The renewable energy firm earlier sought to raise P1.45-billion from a loan deal to bankroll its two solar power projects in Pampanga and Tarlac provinces. —Lisbet K. Esmael