Vargas 'di bibitaw kay Tolentino sa POC elections

MANILA, Philippines — Solidong suporta ang ibibigay ni dating Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas para kay reelectionist Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

Naniniwala si Vargas sa maganda at epektibong programa ni Tolentino sa POC.

“I’m solidly for the continuation of the programs of Bambol,” sabi ni Vargas sa POC incumbent president sa sidelines ng FIBA Asia Cup qualifier kung saan tinalo ng Gilas Pilipinas ang New Zealand, 93-89, noong Huwebes sa Mall of Asia Arena.

“He’s been able to help not only the POC stature, but bring up the stature of the POC and he also helps many athletes,” dagdag ni Vargas na naihalal na POC president noong 2018 ngunit nagbitiw sa puwesto noong 2019.

Isang special election ang idinaos at tinalo ni Tolentino si athletics head Philip Ella Juico.

“We need a man like him especially in the POC where politics is painful,” ani Vargas kay Tolentino. “That’s the reason I chose him to take over my place because I knew that we needed somebody strong, someone who knows politics and who can actually manage politics in any organization. ”

Nakatakda ang POC elections sa Nobyembre 29 sa East Ocean Seafood Restaurant sa Parañaque City.

Boboto ng POC president at mga officials ang 61 national sport associations.

“It’s expected, the other side has always been the biggest critic and they never stopped, in the guise of unity, they never stopped. And it’s the same people … but it’s their right, their right to run, wanting to take over POC again,” wika ni Vargas.

Kalaban ni Tolentino ng cycling para sa POC presidency si Chito Loyzaga ng baseball.

Hangad ni Tolentino ag panibagong four-year term kasama ang kanyang “Working Team” na binubuo nina Alfredo “Al” Panlilio (first vice president) ng basketball, Rep. Richard Gomez (second vice president) ng modern pentathlon, Dr. Jose Raul Canlas (treasurer) ng surfing at  Donaldo “Don” Caringal (auditor) ng volleyball.

Kasama rin nila sa tiket sina Alvin Aguilar (wrestling), Leonora “Lenlen” Escollante (canoe, kayak and dragon boat), Alexander “Ali” Sulit (judo), Ferdinand “Ferdie” Agustin (jiu-jitsu) at Leah Jalandoni Gonzales (fencing) para sa silya sa POC Executive Board.