Bascon endorsed for commish post

Businessman Oscar "Dodong" Bascon, Basketball Association of the Philippines regional director for the Western Visayas and president of the Negros Basketball Association, has been strongly endorsed by various sectors as commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission after it was known that he is one of the candidates for the appointive position under the new administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Among those who are backing Bascon for the PSC post are Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela, Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Apolinario Lozada, Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, BAP president Freddie Jalasco, former PSC commissioner Monico Puentevella, and members of the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) Bacolod chapter.

Bascon is actively involved in basketball, boxing, golf and football. Under his presidency, the Negros Basketball Association received a citation from SCOOP Manila "for its outstanding contribution to the development of basketball in the countryside."

Other sports groups that are pushing for Bascon to the PSC are the Referees Association of Negros, Negros Swimming Association, Government Office and Corporations Athletic Association, Negros Amateur Boxing Association, Negros Occidental Basketball League, Negros Occidental Volleyball Association, Negros Occidental Track and Field Association, Negros Occidental Duckpin Bowlers Association, Bacolod Sports Officials and Coaches Association and the Negros School Sports Cultural Educational Association. — Bill Velasco