Reelected POC chief eyes unity, Tokyo gold

MANILA, Philippines — Cycling chief Abraham Tolentino yesterday gained a fresh four-year mandate as Philippine Olympic Committee president, and vowed to work hard to unify their ranks and rally behind the national team to win the elusive first Olympic gold medal for the country in Tokyo next year.

“We have a lot of challenges next year, a lot of big competitions outside especially the Tokyo Olympics. This might be our first ever gold and we have to focus on that,” said Tolentino, shortly after beating archery’s Clint Aranas in the polls, 30-22.

“There is so much work to be done and the training of our athletes was delayed. But with the help of this new team, starting Jan. 1, definitely there will be a lot of changes and surprises,” he added.

Of the 10 elective posts, all but two went to officials who ran under Tolentino’s ticket.

Basketball’s Al Panlilio was elected first vice president over athletics’ Philip Ella Juico, 30- 23; fencing and modern pentathlon’s Richard Gomez as second VP over independent Ada Milby, 31-22; gymnastics’ Cynthia Carrion- Norton as treasurer over wushu’s Julian Camacho, 27-22; baseball’s Chito Loyzaga as auditor over weightlifting’s Monico Puentevella, 27-24; and surfing’s Dr. Jose Raul Canlas (36), muay’s Pearl Managuelod (31) and judo’s Dave Carter (27) as board members.

Handball’s Steve Hontiveros, who won his second term as chairman over triathlon’s Tom Carrasco, 28-25, and netball’s Charlie Ho, who placed third among board members with 28 votes, were the only two officials from the Aranas’ party who made it.

Tolentino said there would be a lot of changes and surprises not just for the national athletes but Philippine sports in general.

“Definitely there will be lots of surprises. We’ve shown a lot in just more than a year, what more with these four years to come with this team,” he said.

For Panlilio, focus will be on the athletes.