Sports Eye
Exasperated cyclist Bitbit speaks out
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
CYCLIST Marites Bitbit, born in Baguio City and raised in Pangasinan and Cebu, still feels exasperated over her controversial stint during the Vientiane, Laos Southeast Asia Games (SEAG) held last December.
The Malasiqui-raised Marites deplores the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), headed by its president Jose “Peping” Cojunagco, for pulling her out of competitions in the name of “solidarity” with her teammates. Marites, the defending champion in the women’s road race and a contender to win a gold medal in two other events, had a world license to race from the international cycling federation (UCI). Her 12 teammates, however, belonged to a group backed by the POC but not recognized by the UCI and so they were not given license to compete. That started the imbroglio and all our national riders came home empty-handed, without any pushing their bicycle pedals.
The situation has turned from bad to worse after the recent SEA Games. The rift, including Marites’ case, has gone all the way to the senate for a committee hearing chaired by Sen. Gringo Honasan and co-chaired by Sen. Pia Cayetano, a cyclist herself. POC, the umbrella of all our National Sports Associations (NSAs), was invited as well as the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chaired by Harry Angping, who subsidizes the needs of the NSAs and is supposed to work with the POC on the formation of the national team. That didn’t materialize during the preparation and the actual Laos Games. In fact, our Team Philippines went to the Laos Games in two different chartered flights. One from the POC camp and the other from the group of Angping. From that alone, the divisiveness within our delegation is too obvious. Nakakahiya tayo, ‘ika nga.
Cojuangco came to the senate inquiry but unfortunately Angping did not show up. I watched the recording of that proceeding last January 28 and saw how the two sports-minded lawmakers tried to identify the root of bickering among our national sports czars. Angping, a former congressman in Manila, has sent a letter to the committee explaining his absence and requested for an executive session to address the issues hurled by Cojuangco at him.
There was also a call for reconciliation broached by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), which Angping was amenable to for the good of Philippine sports but Cojuangco declined this saying he is more comfortable meeting Angping in court than attending the proposed dialogue by the PSA. Cojuangco filed seven cases before the Makati Regional Trial Court on Nov. 10 against Angping, including coercion, grave threats, libel and other criminal acts. He is also seeking P10 million in damages.
Yes, the two Chinese-Filipinos are at war. It’s like China versus Taiwan.
I talked to Marites last Wednesday and she expressed her exasperation over the feud of our national sports honchos. She said the conflict is causing low morale among our athletes, especially the cyclists. Marites said she prepared hard for the Laos Games and expected to win at least three medals with a minimum of one gold, but it proved in vain. Her Cebuano father Bienvenido and her Malasiqui-born mother Imelda Sotto also lamented what the POC had done to their daughter, depriving her of fame and fortune. Marites, now 31, said she’s not given up yet if she will be retained in the national team for the 2010 Guangzhou, China Games scheduled on November 12-21 this year. In spite of her woes, she said she’s still training intensively and is confident to represent anew our country in the coming Asiad.
Let’s wish and hope that Marites will be kept in the nationals. She’s the strongest of the RP women’s squad and she’s our province mate. Her honor will be also ours.
FIRST JIMMY FERNANDEZ BASKETBALL CUP
Schedule of Finals
1st Game: February 5, 2010, DWAD gym)
1:30 p.m. UL B vs. Colegio de Dagupan
3:00 p.m. Awarding ceremony for third place, most valuable player and mythical five
3:30 p.m. AIE vs. PAMMA
2nd Game: February 9 schedule (DWAD gym)
2:30 p.m. AIE vs. PAMMA
3rd Game: February 11 (DWAD gym)
2:30 p.m. AIE vs. PAMMA
SPONSORED BY: CSI Group of Companies, Mr. Jigs Seen and Milo Energy Drinks.
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