Romero dangles P1M for Asiad gold

MANILA, Philippines - Former Philcycling president Mikee Romero is offering P1 million to any Filipino cyclist who will win a gold medal in the coming Guangzhou Asian Games.

The move came after the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) called for a unification race between the two cycling factions – the group of Ricky Cruz and Col. Arnulfo Taberdo and the one headed by Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

“The call for a unification race is one big step to unite all stakeholders in the cycling community, so I am supporting this move so that we can have a strong and competitive team for the Asian Games,” said Romero, also a multi-titled basketball owner who is the chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Harbour Centre. “So I congratulate POC for its effort to unite the two groups.”

Under Romero’s financial package, a silver medalist will receive P500,000 while a bronze medal is worth P300,000. Romero’s incentive is outside of the Philippine Sports Commission’s cash bonuses to all medalists.

At the same time, Romero urged the group of Taberdo and Cruz and Tolentino to settle their differences once and for all for the sake of the sport.

“I’m not anymore a party to any group nor a partisan to any side but I just want a united Philcycling Philippine team to the Asian Games,” said Romero.

He, however, stressed he would not accept any position if offered again.

With a little over four months before the Asian Games, Romero said the RP cyclists should now step up their training.