Angry, dismayed
Paholio fights for Davao riders, hits national cycling coaches
PHILCYLCING secretary-general for Mindanao Salvador "Jun" Paholio, Jr. yesterday hit the coaching staff of the national cycling team for not taking in Davao City's Batang Pinoy champions as members.
Paholio, who was among the guests of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao, said he's angry and dismayed by the cold treatment Dabawenyo riders have been getting from the national cycling team.
"Galit ako. Nakakaasar na. Bakit ang mga gold medalists natin hindi nila kinukuha? Yung ipinasok nila sa line-up ng national team ni hindi sumali sa Batang Pinoy sa Tagum at ni hindi nag gold sa Batang Pinoy sa Cebu nung 2015. Tayo may Batang gold since 2014 pero hindi parin nila kinukuha maging members ng national team ang mga riders natin," Paholio said, claiming that the national cycling coach from Pangasinan included a rider from his native province to the national team without accounting for a gold in Batang Pinoy nationals the past two years.
In the Batang Pinoy 2016 National Championships, Davao City collected a total of six gold medals, five silvers and four bronzes. Richard Handumonj, Jr. and Myra Regina Acedo clinched one gold each.
Paholio said the cyclists and their parents were asking him about their children's entry into the national squad considering their successful Batang Pinoy stints, adding that all coaches who are also PhilCycling officials agreed in Bacolod City in 2014 that top three medalists will earn slots to the national team but this was not materialized even after three years.
"Dream ng mga bata na pumasok sa national team, pinaasa lang nila. Kaya nga sila nagpursige sa training at sumali dahil sa pangarap maging national athlete. Si Handumon payag naman na sa Manila mag-training pero bakit di nila sinali," Paholio lamented.
He said the city government of Davao spent for the riders' participation to the Games using taxpayers' money. He felt bad that national coaches did not honor the agreement to field Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games (PNG) champions to the national team. He also questioned the qualifications of some riders in the current national cycling squad who he claimed has not won any gold in Batang Pinoy or PNG.
Paholio also said he will take Davao riders' plight to the PhilCycling president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino, Davao City Mayor's Office and the Philippine Sports Commission.
The PSC has recently been at odds with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for not policing its ranks among member national sports associations (NSAs) that have unfair practices in selecting national athletes and not liquidating government funds.