Boying back as mountainbike czar of Phl cycling

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano sportsman Oscar "Boying" Rodriguez, Jr. has been tasked to take charge of the country's mountainbike discipline again by the Philippine Cycling Federation (Philcycling).

This was bared by the Philcycling president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino, a day after their board meeting that coincided with the ASEAN Mountainbike Cup-Round 1 over the weekend in Danao City.

"Boying (Rodriguez), who is our expert here, will take charge of mountainbiking. Siya na bahala kung anong dapat gawin. Right now, we are focused on developing new talents.We are also preparing for the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Cycling Championships among others as part of our road to Rio (Olympics)," said Tolentino.

Rodriguez, who is also a UCI commissaire, had long been handling the country's mountainbike affairs, but laid low for a while because of the leadership row that hobbled Philcycling.

Now that things are in better place, Rodriguez gladly accepts back the job he used to do. For a start, he wants to have only one identified race as a try-out for the national team. This is to avoid confusion among mountainbikers as to which race to prioritize and join in.

Rodriguez, on the other hand, clarified that even if the ASEA Mountainbike Cup was announced as one of the basis for the national team composition, the current lineup in the Phl team will no longer be changed. It may still be added though.

"I still have slots left for the national team. So if Boying has recommendations, we will endorse it to the Philippine Sports Commission," said Tolentino. —Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (FREEMAN)