MANILA, Philippines — Ang pagkakaroon ng tuluy-tuloy na programa at magandang samahan sa Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ang hangad ni Al Panlilio sa kanyang muling pagtakbo bilang POC first vice president sa ilalim ng tiket ni reelectionist president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
“I believe in his leadership,” ani Panlilio kay Tolentino. “And I will talk to him on how to sustain our programs or surpass it for the athletes and Philippines sports.”
Sa ilalim ng liderato nina Tolentino at Panlilio ay nakamit ng Pilipinas ang kauna-unahang Olympic gold medal mula kay weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz noong 2021 sa Tokyo.
Kasunod nito ang dalawang ginto ni gymnast Carlos Yulo sa Paris Games.
“Our sports are progressing after Hidilyn Diaz won gold in the Tokyo Olympics, and now we won two golds courtesy of Carlos Yulo in Paris,” wika ni Panlilio, pangulo ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“We have to surpass previous achievements and provide for sustainable platforms for our athletes,” dagdag nito.
Nakatakda ang POC elections sa Nobyembre 29 sa East Ocean Seafood Restaurant sa Parañaque City.
Muling maghahangad ng panibagong termino sina Tolentino at Panlilio kasama si second vice president Richard Gomez.
Tinawag ni Tolentino ang kanyang tiket bilang “POC Working Team” kasama sina Dr. Jose Raul Canlas ng surfing (treasurer) at Donaldo “Don” Caringal (auditor) ng volleyball at 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) bilang Executive Board members.
Nanawagan din si Panlilio ng pagkakaisa sa lahat ng national sports associations (NSAs).