Sports Eye
Cycling leaders, finally cooling off
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
I’M so glad to know that the two warring groups in the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) are cooling off. I was told about this by Gary Cayton, the chief organizer of Le Tour de Filipinas (formerly called Padyak Pinoy Tour) and confirmed by Judith Caringal of DZSR Sports Radio. Caringal said a unified national tryouts will, in fact, be held on July 9-13, brokered by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the main objective is to form the country’s strongest cycling team for the Guangzhou Asian Games this coming November.
The group of Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Mikee Romero (now being handled by retired Col. Arnold Taberdo), who are both claiming to be the legitimate federation head, have also expressed hopes that unity in the organization is in the offing after three years of squabbling. Both groups vowed to bury the memories of last year’s fiasco in the Laos Southeast Asia Games, where all but one of 13 POC-backed national cyclists were barred from competing because they could not produce licenses issued by the world governing body Union Cycliste Internationale. The one most affected in this brouhaha was our two national riders, Marites Bitbit of Malasiqui and Alfredo Catalan of San Manuel, both gold medalists in the 2007 SEA Games as they were unable to defend their titles in track and mountain bike racings, respectively.
It’s a good start and the lasting unity that our national riders had been longing for can hopefully be finally achieved. Our common goal is to lift this country in international cycling competitions by winning medals. For sure we will go nowhere with too much ego, pride and the resulting divisiveness between our cycling leaders. This is what I’ve been saying in my previous columns. These egoistic people have finally realized their slip-ups and now seem ready to start the ‘new morning’ of Philippine cycling. Hopefully it will be done with no more bitterness.
I will doff my hat to you, guys at sana nga hindi ningas kugon lamang ang balak ninyo.
Yes, like in the very beginning, ten of our Pangasinan cyclists will join the tryouts, especially the mass-start races and individual time trials in road events to be held at Subic Freeport on July 9 and 10. Our riders will be led by our two former Tour champions Arnel Quirimit of Pozorrubio and Santy Barnachea of Umingan. Track races will be conducted in Quezon City on July 12 bannered by Catalan. Reynaldo Navarro of San Jacinto spearheads the downhill and cross-country mountain bike racings on July 11 at a still unspecified venue.
Good luck to all of you, guys. My heart is with you, always and forever. Bring home the gold.
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As of this writing (June 24), Mangatarem chess genius Haridas Pascua is sharing sixth to 14th places in the penultimate round of the Asian Juniors Boys and Girls Championships being held at Chennai, India. Pascua, 17, has 5.5 points in his card so far. I’m expecting him to land in the top ten of this prestigious event participated in by 74 bets in the boys division ages 15- 20 years old.
Another Pangasinan chess wizard, Prince Mark Aquino, is battling the best in the country today in the Second PSC Chairman Harry Angping Cup age-group rapid chess championship at the PSC Canteen inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
The ASEAN age-group gold medalist Aquino, 15, is the son of Ricardo Aquino of Binmaley and Leticia de Mesa of Tacloban, Leyte. He was born in San Nicolas. He is being supported by outgoing Vice Governor and now 6th District Representative-elect Marlyn Primicias Agabas.
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My four friends from the U.S are now visiting our country with much gusto. They are Dr. Randy Oriel of Cerritos, California, formerly from Binalonan, and Mr. and Mrs. Giles Honeycut with their daughter Danica of Forth Worth, Texas. Giles is married to my goddaughter Marilou Carino of Barangay Buenlag, Mangaldan. Oriel is a die- hard Lakers fan and Giles is an avid Dallas Cowboys admirer in American football.
Enjoy your stay my friends. It’s a good change of ambiance.
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