TAGUMPAY NG PH ATHLETES HANGAD NG BAGONG PSC CHIEF

INILARAWAN ni newly-appointed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Noli Eala ang pakikipagpulong niya sa top officials ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) noong Lunes na “a very good start” para sa kanyang administrasyon.

”I was there to listen,” sabi ni Eala patungkol sa pagpupulong na dinaluhan nina POC chief Abraham Tolentino, first vice president Al Panlilio, second vice president Richard Gomez at treasurer Cynthia Carrion-Norton.

“It was really a social call and it was very courteous. Majority of the POC board were there. We discussed some basic things that have transpired in the past,” pahayag ni Eala sa Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum nitong Martes.

Batid ni Eala na ang magandang relasyon sa pagitan ng PSC at ng POC, kabilang ang iba’t ibang national sports associations (NSAs), ay pinakamahalagang elemento na titiyak sa tagumpay ng Philippine Sports.

Sinabi ng dating commissioner ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) na layon niyang panatilihin at palakasin pa ang relasyon na nagresulta sa mga tagumpay, kabilang ang pagwawagi ni Hidilyn Diaz ng gold medal sa Tokyo Olympics.

“I think it was a good start. It shows a united front and it shows cooperation,” sabi ni Eala patungkol sa dinner meeting na dinaluhan din nina POC auditor Chito Loyzaga, board members Dr. Raul Canlas, Pearl Managuelod and Dave Carter, legal counsel Atty. Wharton Chan at deputy secretary-general Bones Floro.

Sinabi ni Eala sa forum na itinataguyod ng San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever, at ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) na wala siyang tanging hangad kundi ang tagumpay ng Filipino athletes.

Susunod niyang agenda ay ang makaharap ang mismong mga atleta.

“That is part of my priorities. I’m making the request and hopefully hold a general assembly so I can talk to them. We will take care of our athletes,” ani Eala.

Magiging abala ang PSC chief, na tinanggap ang kanyang appointment papers mula sa Malacanang noong nakaraang Aug. 30, simula sa susunod na taon sa pagdaraos ng SEA Games sa Cambodia at Asian Games sa Hangzhou, at pagkatapos ay sa 2024 Olympics sa Paris.

“The blueprint to success is very simple,” sabi ni Eala, patungkol sa coaching, sports psychology, proper nutrition, international exposure at sa kinakailangang infrastructure o training venues.

Ayon kay Eala, gaganap din ng mahalagang papel ang pribadong sektor sa sports program kasama ang patuloy na suporta ng pamahalaan at ng government-owned-and-controlled corporations tulad ng PAGCOR.

“By harnessing the support of the private sector, we can create more Hidilyn Diazes and Caloy Yulos. This is the vision behind the new Gintong Alay that we want to build,” aniya.

CLYDE MARIANO