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Source: Rey Bancod, mb.com.ph

-- The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is meeting with officials of the Southeast Asian Games organizing committee for the second time on Saturday with the hope of salvaging the country’s participation in cycling.

Two groups are contesting the leadership in cycling back home, one headed by sportsman Mikee Romero and the other by Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

Romero’s group is recognized by the POC while Tolentino is backed by the International Cycling Union, the world governing body for cycling.

The Asian Cycling Union, which will supervise cycling in the Games, had announced that only cyclists sent by Tolentino would be allowed to compete.

Go Teng Kok, who represents POC president Peping Cojuangco, claimed that he had been assured by the organizing committee that the cyclists would be allowed to see action.

“Suddenly, they reneged on their promise,” said Go who flew Thursday in a last-ditch attempt to save the RP riders’ participation.

Go met with SEAG officials Friday, but failed to secure firm commitment.

At press time, Go was in another round of meeting. If he would be unsuccessful, Go said he would present the country’s case to the SEA Games Council for resolution.

Go said another option is to file a case with the Court of Arbitration in Sports based in Switzerland.

Filipino cyclists bagged four gold medals in Thailand.

Victor Espiritu won the men’s point race, Alfie Catalan captured the men’s individual pursuit, Joey Barba bagged the men’s downhill event in mountain bike and Maritess Bibit emerged on top in the women’s individual road race.

Catalan, Barba, and Bibit head the 13-man cycling team that is set to join the main delegation on Sunday.

The others are Irish Valenzuela, Jan Paul Morales, Eusebio Quinonas, Frederick Feliciano, March McQuin Aleonar, Alvin Benosa, Scott Remie, Ana Marissa Remigio, Julius Mark Bonzo, and Ronald Gorantes.

Two months ago, a local court stopped the group of Tolentino from representing Philcycling and forming a team for the SEA Games.