New PSC Chief takes oath
The Philippine Sports Commission will have its hands full, as the new board led by newly appointed chairman Richard Bachmann, buckles down to work just four months before the country takes part in its first international multi-sport meet—the 32nd Southeast Asian Games set in Cambodia in May.
Bachmann officially took his oath of office on Wednesday before Presidential executive secretary Lucas Bersamin in Malacañang shortly after reporting for his first day of work.
The former Alaska executive in the Philippine Basketball Association believes that his years of experience and philosophy learned from mentor Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, owner of the Alaska organization, will serve him in good stead.
“I bring with me nearly three decades of experience in organized sports, as well as the Alaska Aces’ philosophy I have learned and valued over the years, which is to win with integrity while helping our athletes to become better individuals off the court,” Bachmann said in a statement.
“I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to serve our Philippine athletes in this capacity. I look forward to working with the NSAs, together with our PSC team members and Commissioners, in order to help our athletes, prepare for this year’s sporting events,” said the 54-year-old Bachmann, who replaced the short-tenured Noli Eala.
Eala was appointed in August last year.
Bachmann, according to PSC public communications office head Malyn Bamba, reported for work as early as 7:30 a.m. and inspected some facilities before heading to the Malacanang in Manila to take his oath.
Assisted by some department heads, Bachmann visited the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Tennis Court, Baseball Stadium, Swimming Pool, Multi-Purpose Gym, and Squash Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Bachmann came back in the afternoon to the PSC administration building and met his board, which included commissioners Bong Coo, Walter Torres, and Edward Hayco. There’s still one more commissioner post that remained vacant although the board can now function as a whole.
The previous day, he resigned as operations manager of the Philippine Organizing Committee for the FIBA World Cup the country is lead hosting in August. He is set to vacate his post as basketball commissioner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and as commissioner of the PBA 3×3 tournament.
“We’re thankful that finally we now have a PSC that can function properly. We are preparing for a busy year for Philippine sports,” said a sports association official.
The Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee has begun requiring National Olympic Committee the “entry by numbers” from participating countries in 49 sports events to be played in the 32nd edition of the biennial meet.
The Philippines will send 814 athletes to Cambodia SEA Games slated May 5 to 16, according to Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who is “hoping to have a good and honest relationship with the new chairman.
Aside from the Cambodia SEA Games, the PSC and POC must work hand in hand for the country’s successful campaigns in other major competitions such as the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and World Beach Games in November as well as dozens of qualifying tournaments for the 2023 Paris Olympics.
“We cannot deny the fact how important the support of the PSC is to all the athletes, especially now with the Olympic journey, we are very sensitive to the precious assistance and of course lessening the strenuous process of providing a contribution of the PSC to our NSAs [national sports associations],” Tolentino said. “That is our utmost concern.”
