PSC assures support for national athletes

BAGUIO CITY — A member of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) said yesterday that the agency will support the athletes’ preparations for Southeast Asian Games despite some disagreement among the country’s top sports leaders.

PSC Commissioner Charles Maxey made the assurance and asked the SEAG-bound athletes to stay focused on their training for the biennial meet set to start on Aug. 19 in Kuala Lumpur.

“We want to assure the athletes that we will continue to support them. We know how the athletes feel when there is conflict among the sports leaders,” said Maxey, referring to the disagreement between the PSC and its counterparts from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

“We assure them that the PSC will continue to support them as they prepare for the SEA Games,” he added.

PSC officials, led by its chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, are here for the launching of the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) – a program that aims to establish the grassroots programs of various local government units or LGUs, with the help of the PSC.

Athletes from the grassroots level will be given opportunities to be part of national team training pool in different sports disciplines for future international competitions like the SEA Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.

Ramirez reacted angrily recently after POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., told the government sports agency to stop meddling in the training of the athletes and concentrate instead on its grassroots program.

Cojuangco also had a word war with former PBA star and now PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez who he branded as a “game-fixer” during his PBA days.

Fernandez is now preparing to file libel case vs Cojuangco in Cebu City.

“It’s difficult when there is conflict among sports leaders because it’s the athletes who are caught in the middle,” said Maxey. “We in the PSC hope they continue to focus On their training.”