Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team Manager Quimpo: Leaving a Lasting Legacy For His Alma Mater

A former player of the Ateneo Blue Eagles men’s basketball team sometime in 2002, Christopher “Epok” Quimpo, said its time to give back to his alma mater.

Aside from being the Senior Marketing Manager for Smarts Communications, Inc., the 42-year-old member of Season 65 Ateneo championship team also serves as the team manager of the Ateneo Men’s basketball team for almost six years.

“It’s always good to serve your alma mater regardless of school, where you came from. The value that you learn from school--not only the plus and minus signs, the grammar and all that, but the spirit behind it as a community. It somehow defines you as a person when you go back and try to help your school,” he said.

For Quimpo, who was then drafted by Talk ‘N Text in 2004 in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), being a team manager is an opportunity for him to help not only to the players but also to his countrymen.

“I do not wish to join politics because I am never fond of it. Sport is something that is close to my heart, same as for Ateneo. Just combine the two, the service that you give, its different when you are working, you wake up at 7 a.m., be at the office at 9 a.m., its different when it is your alma mater, there is a different fulfilment for me,” Quimpo said.

“Aside from that, I think most of all, would like to see more kids, players that will excel in both fields. And at the end of the day, whether they chose what path to take, and in so doing, we also help our country,” he added.

However, Quimpo admitted that he encountered some challenges in taking care of off-court matters of the team especially some incidents that “came in as a surprise”.

“Of course, you planned it out, and then boom! There comes a problem, then may mga incidents yung na hindi mo mafoforesee, player na biglang malulungkot, mahohomesick, those are normal things that you go through or we have gone through and come to think of it, they are after the fact na hindi pala madali yung nangyari,” he said.

“But we need to always remember each player has their own ambitions, sariling gustong suportahan and they wanted to be successful, now if at a certain point, if they are failing to meet the criteria nakakalungkot yun,” he added.

To overcome those challenges, Quimpo underscored the importance of having a “support group” to the players.

“Importante na may support group ka, you have the community behind you, and you have several friends that have been there for you, because in life, you cannot just maneuver alone,” Quimpo said.

For him, seeing his former players successful was his greatest reward--with championship as a bonus.

“When I see the players that they are already successful andun naman ung reward mo, Matt and Mike sa Gilas, si Adrian PBA, si Isaac Go, what else can you ask for?,” he said.

“When Isaac Go came in to Ateneo, I was recruiting him, he told me that he just wanted to be part of Team B, but look at the turn around. ‘Yan ang mga hindi na natin pwedeng icharge sa bill,” Quimpo said in jest.

“At the end of the day, we want them to look back and be thankful for what they have gone through. You know, I will not be here forever. One way or another, somebody got has to take my place, nakakatuwa lang na from the past, even until now since I joined the program, most of the players were able to if not join PBA, make it out there,” he said.

Being a former athlete himself, he places a premium on education and still encourages his players to finish their studies first because not everything in basketball is permanent.

“I always remind the players to never fail to appreciate their diploma afterwards because that is the most important thing. Basketball will be what? Three, five seven years, madalang na ang 10 years ngayon, so after nun what’s next? If you do not prepare or study well during the university years, wala kang pupuntahan,” he said.

The former PBA player and now a father of four, Quimpo said he always sees success in everything.

“I think there is always success in everything, aside from the fact that it is just temporary, I rarely get commended especially with competition. One way or another, if we are winning, we will continue winning, if we are losing, we always find a way to win,” he said.

“Success nandiyan diyan lang yan and narereset yan especially sa season days like basketball, pero as a person, sa family ko yes, I have four kids, I’m already successful with that,” he finally said.

Photo is from Epok Quimpo Instagram