i TV Pinoy

Source: Rey Bancod, mb.com.ph

-- The Philippine delegation to the 25th Southeast Asian Games arrived Sunday amid last-minute efforts to save the participation of the 12-man cycling team here.

The main wave of athletes checked in at the SEA Games Village after touching down at the Wattay international airport aboard two chartered planes.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and his party were among those who arrived aboard the POC-chartered plane.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) leased another plane to bring in 153-funded athletes led by swimming superstar Miguel Molina, former world pool champions Efren “Bata” Reyes, Alex Pagulayan and Ronnie Alcano, shooting ace Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, Olympic jins Toni Rivero and Tshomlee Go and the celebrated boxing team.

Conspicuously absent was PSC chairman Harry Angping whose earlier call for peace and unity went generally unheeded.

Despite the apparent POC snub, Angping announced a big package of incentives for athletes who bring home medals. He also raised the allowances of SEAG athletes.

Also in town are members of the cycling squad whose participation remains in doubt following a directive from the International Cycling Union (UCI) that effectively barred them from competing.

The UCI told organizers to honor only licenses signed by the group belonging to Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

The POC recognizes the faction of young businessman Mikee Romero who formed the team for the Games.

Romero, who also co-owns the Philippine Patriots in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), has gone on leave to attend to pressing business matters, prompting the POC to take up the cudgels for cycling.

After yielding negative results the past two days, athletics president Go Teng Kok, the POC’s chief troubleshooter, reported that he mustered the support of all member countries.

“We have agreed to request the UCI to grant temporary licenses to our cyclists. And this request is transmitted as we speak,” said Go.

Go said the SEAG council will convene Monday to ratify their action.

The POC certifies athletes that go to the Games while the UCI, through the Asian Cycling Federation, supervises the Games.
The cycling row brings to the fore the deep division in the sports community back home.

The POC and the PSC don’t see eye to eye on a number of issues, the conflict coming to a head with the absence of PSC personnel in the Games.

For the first time since bankrolling the country’s participation in major international meets, the PSC does not have a presence in the delegation.

The PSC, following the rigid guidelines set in consultation with RP chief of mission Mario Tanchangco, had earlier agreed to fund 153 athletes and denied POC’s request for the addition of 98 athletes.

As a result, the POC was forced to raise funds from the private sector.

Two sets of uniforms were given to athletes, one from the POC and the other from the PSC.

There were strict instructions to use only the POC-prescribed suits, according to one member of the water polo team.