Four UAAP aces join Smart Elite

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications named Gilas cadet standouts Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo, Prince Rivero of La Salle, Far Eastern U’s Mac Belo and Santo Tomas’ Kevin Ferrer as spearheads of the nine-man sports ambassadors from the UAAP dubbed as “Smart Elite.”

Ravena, Rivero, Belo and Ferrer were members of the Gilas’ gold medal campaign in the last SEA Games in Singapore. The four will also lead their respective schools in the 78th UAAP basketball competition firing off Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Others named to the elite squad during rites at Caliburger in Century City Mall in Makati City yesterday were Gelo Alolino of reigning UAAP champion National U, returnee Jett Manuel of State U, Ateneo’s Von Pessumal, Adamson’s Dawn Ochea and University of the East’s Paul Varilla.

“We encourage young Filipinos to take inspiration from these athletes who have displayed outstanding basketball skills and fierce passion for the sport,” said Smart Sports senior manager Christopher Quimpo.

“We support the Smart Elite as they continue to live more by pursuing their passion, in the same way that we are enabling millions of Filipinos to fully enjoy their passions, be it music, films, urban living, or sports – through meaningful innovations. This is what Smart life is all about,” he added.

Ravena, seeking to cap his UAAP stint with a championship, said he wants to be a role model for the youth.

“As members of Smart Elite, we have the responsibility to be examples to our fans inside and outside the basketball court,” he said.

Smart is encouraging UAAP fans to use their mobile devices to view the official livestream at the ABS-CBN Sports site, sports.abs-cbn.com.

Smart, along with PLDT Home, partnered with ABS-CBN for online livestreaming of UAAP events to enable more Filipinos to live the “Smart Life” by using digital innovations to enjoy their passions more.

Smart is a staunch supporter of sports development in the country having backed the NCAA, Gilas Pilipinas, Sinag, Azkals and some of the country’s sports programs like boxing and taekwondo among others through its chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.