JRU player who died after collapsing in game didn't get fast medical aid -- teammate

The Jose Rizal University high school varsity basketball player who died two days after collapsing during a summer tournament game did not receive immediate medical attention at the venue, according to one of his teammates.

CJ Servillon, 17, lost consciousness in the middle of a game against De La Salle-Zobel in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup on Friday. He spent two days in the Intensive Care Unit but died on Sunday.

Servillon complained of dizziness during the pre-game warm-up, but he continued to play anyway. During one of the timeouts, however, he suffered from a seizure.

"'Yung player namin wala nang heartbeat. 'Yung medic wala, ang tagal. Kaya galit na galit 'yung coach namin," said Servillon's teammate JL Sta. Maria in a report on "Balitanghali" on Tuesday.



Servillon's family is currently considering its options in filing a complaint against the organizers of the basketball tournament.

"Sana magsilbing leksyon 'to, sino man ang magpapalaro," said Servillon's grandfather Severio. "We are not after money. Gusto ko mabigyan nang proteksyon ang iba pang player."

GMA News is still trying to get the side of the organizers as of posting.

Unexpected death

Jun Servillon, the father of CJ, said the youngster was not suffering from any kind of illness and his unexpected death stunned their family.

"Masakit po sa amin 'yung pagkawala niya sa amin. Kasi napakabait na bata po e," he told Balitanghali in an interview. "Hindi po nagkakasakit 'yun e. Nagulat nga po kami nung araw na yun nag-collapse po siya."

The JRU Light Bombers, meanwhile, vowed to continue their late player's NCAA dream and turn their grief into motivation in order to honor Servillon.

"Kung ako nga 'yung tatanungin ayoko nang palitan siya even though he's already gone," said coach Nat Gregorio. "He will still be in the lineup. Sixth man namin siya."

"Hindi man po siya nakapagtuloy sa NC[AA], kami na po ang magpapatuloy sa kanya. Ibibigay naman po namin lahat e, para po sa kanya 'to," said Sta. Maria. -- Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News