Macapagal counting on solid 16-man team

Shooting chief Art Macapagal, who is running against Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. in next month’s election, will announce his own ticket upon his arrival this weekend.

“We welcome their ticket, we respect their line-up,” softball’s Harry Angping, who is running under Mapacagal, yesterday said. “Art Macapagal will arrive soon, he will make the big announcement when he returns.”

Angping earlier said they have a solid 16-man group and have nearly 10 who are still undecided but are leaning toward the side of the former two-time Olympian who happens to be the half-brother of President Arroyo.

Cojuangco recently announced his 20-man ticket minus the position of chairman, which was left vacant following Bacolod Representative and weightlifting chief Monico Puentevella’s decision to run as an independent candidate for that post.

Sources said that some of the names in the Cojuangco list were not fully committed to the group.

Among the NSAs (national sports associations) most likely to vote for Macapagal are fencing, triathlon, taekwondo, baseball, chess, golf, gymnastics, rowing, sailing, softball, traditional boat race, billiards and snookers and squash among others.

There are 40 voting members in the POC including International Olympic Committee representative to the country Frank Elizalde with 21 votes needed to win it.