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Friday, March 29, 2024

POC to fight for Obiena’s inclusion in SEAG, Asiad

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The ongoing conflict involving top Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association should not be a reason for him to be removed from the national team.

POC president Rep. Abraham Tolentino

Obiena’s squabble with the his national federation needs to be set aside and he must be allowed to continue representing the country in international meets.

This was the stand of Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino as he talked about the situation surrounding Obiena, who decided to withdraw from the Philippine Sports Commission-brokered mediation process with the PATAFA.

“The POC will fight for it,” said Tolentino during Tuesday’s online session of the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

Tolentino expressed his thoughts on Obiena’s decision a day before the POC General Assembly tackles his case and the country’s coming participation in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games and Hangzhou Asian Games.

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“This will be a test case (for the POC). Ang tanong sa NSA, if the athlete has a big potential, will you not endorse him? Just because of a brouhaha, will you deprive the country of representation for medals,” asked Tolentino.

The POC chief said that if Obiena is sanctioned and dropped from the national team and government funding will no longer be available for him, the POC will help him out.

The POC plans to include him as among the 18 athletes of the Philippine Team’s “Group B” which will be provided for with private sector sponsorship.

This is part of the POC’s plans to have two groups of national athletes, with Group A being those that are supported by government funds through the Philippine Sports Commission and participating in the SEA Games and the Asian Games.

Group B deals with outstanding national athletes who are struggling to get funding and support but are still part of the national contingent.
“Okay lang kung hindi siya i-endorse. Doon pasok siya sa Group B,” said Tolentino.

During the POC meeting, which will be held and live-streamed at the Grandmaster Hotel in Tagaytay City, details on the Philippines’ campaign in the SEA Games and the Asiad will be taken up in detail, including the limited government funding that is available for their stints.

The General Assembly will also decide on the POC executive committee Board’s decision to declare PATAFA president Philip Juico persona non grata, with some members seeking to nullify this decision.

Among those who support the move to reverse the executive board’s decision is weightlifting chief Monico Puentevella, who is also asking the PATAFA to keep Obiena in its pool of national athletes.

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