POC Chief si Bambol

NAKUHA ni PhilCycling chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino ang ayuda ng mayorya para pamunuan ang Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) bago ang regular Olympics-calendar election sa susunod na taon.

Tinalo ni Tolentino, Congressman ng Tagaytay City, si athletics chief Philip Ella Juico, 24-20, sa International Olympic Committee-ordered Special Election nitong Linggo sa Century Park Hotel sa Manila.

Nakuha ni Tolentino, 55, ang posisyon na binakantehan ng nagbitiw na si boxing chief Ricky Vargas nitong Hunyo 18.

“I am calling on my fellow NSA heads to prioritize the POC’s future when they cast their votes. The POC is an institution that needs protection,” pahayag ni Tolentino.

“Thank you very much sa lahat ng sumuporta. Hopefully, natapos na rin itong POC squabble,” aniya.

“I think as the saying goes: ‘Set aside the differences and move forward, let’s all be united because we’re preparing to focus on the SEA Games and next year – Para Games and Olympics.”

Nagwagi rin bilang Chairman ng POC si handball chief Steve Hontiveros kontra taekwondo chairman Robert Aventajado (2618), habang nakuha muli nina gymnastics chief Cynthia Carrion at archery head Clint Arenas ang Board membership.

Kabilang ang dalawa sa nagbitiw sa puwesto, kasama si Tolentino sa ginanap na General Assembly meeting nitong Hunyo 26 para mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga miyembro na piliin ang tamang opisyal na mamuno sa grupo.

Kabuuang 41 regular member national sports associations (NSAs) ang nakiisa, gayundin ang athletes commission representatives na sina Henry Dagmil at Hidilyn Diaz, at International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Mikee CojuangcoJaworski. Tanging ang Rugby Philippines ang hindi bumoto sa election.

Inaasahang itatalaga ni Tolentino si Lucas Managuelod, pangulo ng Muaythai Association of the Philippines, bilang head ng POC membership committee.