A change

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

IF you are really an ardent follower of sports, I believe you are aware of the latest ruckus in our National Sports Associations (NSA). Well, after that long squabble in basketball between BAP and SBP that has not even been completely solved to this day, another power-struggle cropped up in one of our NSAs. This time, it’s in cycling, my number one sport and one of the favorite sports, too, of Pangasinenses.

The brouhaha has turned from bad to worst. It has become a contentious issue for the sports leaders headed by Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), our national governing body of all sports that’s recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Two groups are claiming and disputing leadership in the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines or better known as PhilCycling, the national governing body of cycling recognized by the world’s organization Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). In basketball, UCI is like FIBA and PhilCycling is like SBP or BAP.

The two warring groups are the factions led by former Marlboro Tour champ Paquito Rivas and former national standout Rolando Hiso.

The group of Hiso held their assembly and election of officers last December 13, presided by PhilCycling chair Loy Cruz in compliance with the deadline set in the PhilCycling charter, while the faction of Rivas will hold their polls on January 16, which I know is a violation of the national cycling charter that clearly states that election should be held in every Olympic year. That was last year, we are now in 2009. First technical.

The Rivas faction also said it will hold national tryouts on January 15 and 16 at Quezon City velodrome and Tagaytay City, respectively, in conjunction with their elections. (Hiso’s group will hold a tune-up bikefest on January 16 at UP Quezon Memorial Circle in preparation for their version of national tryouts).

That’s puzzling. How can the Rivas group hold tryouts when they’ve not even chosen their new set of officers? Na-technical na naman sila, hindi ba?

To me, the Rivas group is illegitimate because it committed two technical errors and, therefore, should NOT be recognized by the POC.

PATAFA (Phil. Amateur Track and Field Association) president Go Teng Kok, special assistant to the POC president, said he will recommend to the POC Executive Board thru Atty. Sam Eskimo, Hiso’s group legal counsel, the recognition of the new set of offi-cers spearheaded by Hiso. This means Hiso’s group sticks to the rule of law.

My kumpadre Modesto Bonzo, also a former Tour of Luzon champion who brought multiple honors to this province, is with the Rivas bloc. I side with Hiso’s group. That’s democracy.

As US President-elect Barack Obama said, “It’s time for a change.” And that change will happen in PhilCycling.

* * * * *

Kudos to our Pangasinan cycling team for winning the 2008 National Criterium Series that ended last January 11 in Luneta!

The Pitaki Boyz, sponsored by Guam based Jazy Sportswear/Beacon Phil., dominated the monthly series event that started in February last year with Ericson Obosa of Manaoag capturing the overall individual and sprint honors. Obosa’s performance also helped the team in bagging the overall championship.

Keep up with the strong pedaling, guys. But always remember, 2009 is not 2008 so there could be some changes, too.

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