Pool bets, riders urged to focus on SEAG bids

MANILA, Philippines - Officials of troubled NSAs (national sports associations) may end up watching from the sidelines when their respective athletes compete in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos in December.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping yesterday called for a meeting with the athletes from billiards and cycling so he could have a feel of the situation as the SEA Games draw closer.

“I’d like to meet the athletes and ask them to forget about the differences of their respective leaders and focus on the SEA Games,” said Angping.

“There are disputes in cycling and billiards and the athletes are being caught in the crossfire. There are athletes on each side of the fence,” said Angping, who has vowed full support to the SEAG bets.

“Maybe we can form a dream team for both sports – a combination of athletes from both sides. And let their leaders keep their quarrel until after the staging of the SEA Games,” said the PSC chief.

In cycling, there’s the group led by sports patron Mikee Romero against the faction led by Tagaytay Mayor Bambol Tolentino, while in billiards there’s a group headed by Putch Puyat against the one led by Yen Makabenta.

“I will talk to their athletes. And if they agree to set aside their differences and be one for the SEA Games, then they’re off to Laos.”

“That’s the solution that I can see because you can’t just consider one group and ignore the other, which may also have strong chances of winning gold medals. All of us should be Team Philippines when we get to Laos,” said Angping.

The PSC the other day announced that it is doubling the cash incentives for gold medalists in the SEA Games from P100,000, courtesy of the national government, to P200,000, the other half coming from the PSC.

It’s an unprecedented move on the part of the PSC to shell out cash incentives for the athletes, On top of this, the PSC will also give the 153 chosen athletes P2,500 each on Oct. 30, Nov. 15 and Nov. 30 as extra money.

The amount does not include their monthly allowances of P15,000 each.   – Abac Cordero