The Philippine sports community took to social media to express its sympathy for employees of ABS-CBN Sports and those affected by its shutdown, announced Thursday.
For years, ABS-CBN Sports has been home to the UAAP, the NCAA, and the Premier Volleyball League, and foreign leagues such as the NBA, and ceasing operations, part of its mother company's wide-ranging operation and job cuts, has drawn reactions of disbelief.
Even personalities from other sports-media outfits expressed solidarity with the sports broadcaster.
ABS-CBN Corp. announced on Wednesday that it will cease the operations of some of its businesses and lay off workers effective August 31, following the non-renewal of its broadcast franchise.
Its sports unit is among those that will cease operations, with Dino Laurena, head of Integrated Sports, confirming the development.
"The final buzzer," he said. "So ends this journey… I made the painful announcement to our beloved Sports team today."
"I've been on this road before, and I can assure you, it is not something I will swear even on people I don't like. It is heart-wrenchingly painful," he added.
Prior to the development these past few days, the MPBL, a block-timer on S+A channel since the league's inception in 2018, said last week it is looking for a new broadcast partner.
For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.
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