FilOil claims no negligence in death of JRU baller Servillon

MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the FilOil Flying V Preseason Tournament claim there was no negligence on their part in caring for and attempting to save Jose Rizal University high school player CJ Servillon after he collapsed Friday morning, May 22 during a game against De La Salle Zobel.

“Basically, when the attention of the medical team was called, from the time that he was being loaded into the ambulance, that took 4 minutes,” tournament director Joey Guillermo explained in a press conference on Wednesday, May 27 at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan. 

“And from the ambulance until they got to Cardinal Santos Medical Center that was 6 minutes. Altogether it was 10 minutes.”

The officials’ statements contrast with reports that it took 30 minutes before the 17-year old cager was brought to Cardinal Santos Medical Center because there was no driver available for the ambulance at the venue. 

JL Sta. Maria, one of Servillon’s teammates, told GMA’s Balitanghali on Tuesday “there was no medic, he was taking so long.” 

“The medical team did everything to make sure that CJ will get to the hospital alive. Basically there was only a 10-minute time frame from the time he collapsed until he reached the hospital,” Guillermo claims, saying the information was verified with the league’s outsourced medical team.

A representative from the medical team was not present at the press briefing.

Guillerm also said they have proof through CCTV footages but that it cannot be obtained just yet as the full report from the medical team is still being completed. 

“It is on record that the ambulance arrived at 10:30. Now the game began at 10 o’clock. It was already the second quarter. So there was really no gap that the boy was left with no oxygen or CPR,” league commissioner Ato Badolato added. 

Guillermo denied claims that organizers were ill-equipped for a medical emergency, saying the medical team was prepared and the ambulance at the venue was fully-equipped and “complete and ready for any eventuality.”

Servillon, believed to be in top physical health, collapsed during a timeout in the second quarter of the juniors game Friday and slipped into a coma before expiring on Sunday evening, May 24.

Moral support, financial assistance

FilOil officials say they provided financial assistance to Servillon’s bereaved family but did not disclose the amount, saying it extends from wake to burial.

More than financial aid, officials expressed their desire to grieve with the family.

Guillermo and Badolato along with FilOil Vice President Mandy Ochoa and league consultant Virgil Villavicencio all attended Servillon’s wake on Tuesday, May 26 at around 3 pm and stayed there for about 45 minutes. 

CJ’s grandfather Severio told GMA that the family was considering filing a complaint against the FilOil organizers.

“I hope this is a lesson to whoever is organizing the games. We are not after the money. I just want other players to receive protection,” he said. 

Ochoa says Servillon’s family expressed their concerns over what transpired after Servillon lost consciousness, but appeared appreciative the FilOil officials went to visit. 

“He (Servillon’s grandfather) just wanted to hear our side and he wanted also to release what he heard from others,” Ochoa explained.

“The reason we don’t want to focus on the amount is because it’s secondary. We came because we did not want them to feel that they are alone. We came because that we wanted them to feel that we’re grieving as well.” 

He added: “We not only got together as a team to find out facts, but we also got together to make sure that the family feels our presence during this sad time. Believe it or not these kids are our children as well.”

“They were very much satisfied that we came over just to clear a little things,” Virgil shared. “At the end of the day, we told them what has happened. We just wanted to grieve with them and condole with them.” 

Officials are not aware as of posting whether or not Servillon’s family will be pressing charges. But Villavicencio said the family will evaluate the situation after the burial. 

“I did not feel any animosity. Ang naramdaman ko (What I felt) is they’re hurting,” Ochoa said. 

“And the appreciation is there that we came. There’s hope that we can still communicate to each other for whatever reason.”

Lesson learned 

FilOil officials said that they see Servillon’s passing as a lesson learned. 

Villavicencio bared plans to sit down with management after the ongoing tournament has ended to discuss action plans to avoid any similar incidents from happening again.

Of urgent importance is the addition of a standby doctor for all games.

“One step maybe is to improve whatever we have. Because of what happened, we’ll be talking with management to put in a budget for a standby doctor, not just medics,” Villavicencio explained, noting that they were told it could have helped Servillon if a doctor was available at the venue. 

“Second is to have medical clearance from the school. Definitely there will be an assessment for improvement.” 

Ochoa said FilOil is considering requiring schools to have its athletes undergo medical and physical examinations next season. 

Additionally, Ochoa believes there is a need for awareness and consciousness of “what can happen to a 17-year old athlete.”

“It’s a lesson learned, not only for us, but for other leagues,” Villavicencio said.

— Rappler.com