Tolentino hits ground running

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will call to order the members of the new set of POC executive board on 9 January before presiding over his first general assembly of the new year on 15 January.

Tolentino said it’s going to be a very busy year capped by the country’s participation in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games so they have to start working as soon as possible.

“Work starts in earnest,” said Tolentino, who is determined to rally the Filipinos to a strong SEA Games participation in Thailand in December.

“That will be a tough SEA Games, but I’m confident our athletes, our national sports associations will deliver in Thailand.”

There are dozens of international competitions lined up in 2025 with the Ninth Asian Winter Games set from 7 to 14 February in Harbin, China, and the postponed Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games set in Jeddah at a still to be determined dates serving as highlights.

Tolentino said he expects the trajectory of Philippine sports to continue pointing upward following the historic haul of two gold medals from Carlos Yulo in gymnastics and two bronzes in boxing from Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“It was one historic year in 2024 that raised the bar that high, making the POC’s mission and vision even more challenging,” Tolentino said.

“But it wasn’t impossible and my trust and confidence over the (National Sports Associations) NSAs and my ‘Working Team’ could boost our athletes to achieve higher goals.”

Tolentino and his entire “Working Team” were the runaway winners in last month’s POC elections in which he gained 45 votes that represented three-fourths of the 61 voting members of the organization.

Composed of first vice president Al Panlilio of basketball, second vice-president Richard Gomez of modern pentathlon, treasurer Dr. Raul Canlas of surfing, auditor Don Caringal of volleyball and board members Leonora Escollante of canoe-kayak-dragon boat, Ferdie Agustin of jiu-jitsu, Alvin Aguilar of wrestling, Alexander Sulit of judo and Leah Gonzalez of fencing, the “Working Team” also got overwhelming votes of confidence from the NSAs.

Tolentino stressed that the template of success Yulo and Tokyo 2020 weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz utilized, will be enhanced to keep the streak going for Philippine sports.

“The template’s been tried, tested and proven twice over,” he said.

“For this coming year, the ingredients are there, making the path to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 clearer and achievable.”