What’s in store for Philippine sports?

As promised after that initial intro column, I will now dwell on a major issue on Philippine sports and what lies ahead for us.

By now, everyone in the local world of sports is aware of the fact that finally, the reign of Peping Cojuangco as the President of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) finally ended, with Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) head Ricky Vargas succeeding him in a second election ordered by the court after Vargas appealed his earlier disqualification.

But what we do not know as yet is how this change in leadership will affect Philippine sports. Everyone is optimistic that the non-politician Vargas will be able to bring a measure of proper management in running the affairs of the POC after Cojuangco’s practically one-man rule with a lot of words but less results.

It is a fact that in the last SEA Games in Malaysia last year, we had our worst finish and the least number of gold medals won, a trend that had been set in the time of Peping. And even if we won a silver medal in the last Olympic Games through the effort of Hidilyn Diaz, I cannot credit it to the leadership of Peping at all nor to balik-eksena Monico Puentebella as supposedly the head of the Philippine Weightlifting Association (PWA). For me, Puentebella belongs to the traditional politicians who have stayed too long in Philippine sports like Cojuangco and should be giving way already to younger and more promising sports leaders.

As it is, Vargas is seeing that the easy part has been done already, getting Cojuangco out of the POC Presidency. But now that Vargas is picking up the pieces, he is beginning to realize that the reality of politics in sports just cannot be wished away and that whether he likes it or not, he has to contend with this. He is finding out, too, that his decisions will end up making people both happy and disappointed for it is true that one cannot please everyone.

He inherited a divided house as the faction of Cojuangco remains a potent group though the fence sitters have already made their decision to ally themselves this time with Vargas. Personally, I believe there are those who sided with Vargas for personal interests’ sake and not really for the sake of the sports they are leading. But then, this is part of the realities that Vargas inherited.

It is good that Vargas has identified the concern of National Sports Associations (NSAs) that have leadership problems resulting to two factions in the same sport like tennis, volleyball, swimming, among others, for this has been a long time problem hounding Philippine sports. He has appointed an adjudication committee to take care of this. What is important is that warring factions both respect and accept the decision whatever it may be by the committee.

Vargas has also met with the PSC and the national government, particularly with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano who leads the organizing group for the 2019 SEA Games which we are hosting. It is good that the POC and the PSC are aligned now for this event unlike before. Preparing for an event of this magnitude is no joke with some infrastructures needed to be built ahead of time and the athletes’ selection and training programs to be finalized.

Definitely a lot of work, a lot of headaches for Vargas and his team at the POC.

But one thing for sure, there is more hope now in Philippine sports than it was during Cojuangco’s time.