After the devastating announcement of the ABS-CBN shutdown, ABS-CBN Sports+Action said goodbye as they became a victim of the rejected franchise bid.
Former University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball star Gretchen Ho said that she practically grew up with the sports network.
She began hosting ABS-CBN Sports+Action before switching to other news and lifestyle programs on the broadcast network.
That's it. ABS-CBN Sports officially signs off. Love you fam @abscbnsports thank you for everything.
Photos from @moki_doki pic.twitter.com/LP8ESDxANf
— Gretchen (@gretchenho) July 16, 2020
ABS-CBN newscaster Kevin Manalo posted a picture of his ABS-CBN ID with the caption, “Now signing off…Salamat, Kapamilya!”
Now signing off…Salamat, Kapamilya! pic.twitter.com/0J9eRS3Bay
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) July 17, 2020
He mentioned how ABS-CBN Sports brought sports icons, athletes together as a family that gives importance to the Sports community in the country, “And there you go, another heartbreaking news for the entire ABSCBN Sports family – the team who brought us closer to our Pinoy sports icons, courtside reporters, and athletes!”
And there you go, another heartbreaking news for the entire ABSCBN Sports family – the team who brought us closer to our Pinoy sports icons, courtside reporters, and athletes!
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) July 16, 2020
Tricia Robredo look backed on her former work as an Ateneo court reporter, where she felt that she had the best years of her life, “7 years ago, I was given the opportunity to live out a dream I never thought I had. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for giving me some of the best years of my life, @abscbnsports. I can’t believe this is happening.”
7 years ago, I was given the opportunity to live out a dream I never thought I had. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for giving me some of the best years of my life, @abscbnsports. I can’t believe this is happening. 💔💚💙 pic.twitter.com/ZOPVocXU5N
— Tricia Robredo (@jpgrobredo) July 16, 2020
The daughter of Vice-President Leni Robredo also slammed the lawmakers who, she said, chose to obey the whims of leaders who would lead to job losses among her 11,000 employees in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But much more than that: Thousands of workers – na walang ibang ginawa kundi magtrababo ng marangal para sa kanilang mga pamilya – malubhang naaapektuhan sa gitna ng pandemya dahil sa personal na galit ng iilan. How do you still sleep at night, PH Congress?
— Tricia Robredo (@jpgrobredo) July 16, 2020
Sports Television news anchor Migs Bustos thanked ABS-CBN sports for being a home to him and making his dreams come true as a news anchor in the field of sports, “Salamat @abscbnsports. You made our dreams come true. You will always be my home.”
https://twitter.com/migsbustos/status/1283693436097269760
For years, ABS-CBN Sports has been home to the UAAP, the NCAA, and the Top Volleyball League, as well as international leagues such as the NBA.
The sports unit is among those that will cease operations, with Dino Laurena, Head of Integrated Sports, confirming the developments on his personal Facebook page.
“The final buzzer,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,”
Since ABS-CBN Corp. announced on Wednesday that it will cease operations of some of its companies and lay off most of its workforce as of August 31, 2020, following the non-renewal of its franchise.
The fate of the leagues that called home ABS-CBN Sports+Action, such as the UAAP, the NCAA, and the Premier Volleyball League, remains uncertain. It claimed that the NCAA and the PVL still have ongoing channel contracts, while the UAAP contract ended on May 31.
