Mikee keen on forming RP squad despite row

MANILA, Philippines - Cycling chief Mikee Romero yesterday said he will push through with the formation of the national team for this year’s SEA Games despite the uncertainty of the team’s stint in the biennial event slated in December.

This came about after the Philippine Olympic Committee the other day hinted at the possibility of scrapping the RP team’s participation in the SEA Games in Laos due to leadership dispute in the sport.

The Asian Cycling Confederation, which sanctions the top international cycling meets like the SEA Games and the Asian Championships, recently directed the POC to coordinate with Abraham Tolentino, the other cycling group head, in the formation of the Laos-bound national squad.

The ACC and the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the world governing body in cycling, said it is recognizing the group of Tolentino as the legitimate cycling federation in the Philippines.

But the POC recognizes Romero’s group, which had held a pair of tryouts that drew participation from nearly 200 cyclists.

Benito Lopez Jr. and Rey Martin topped the two races in Tanay, Rizal to secure berths in the RP team scheduled to compete in four cycling events in the 10-day, nine-nation meet.     – Joey Villar