PSC founding chair Cecil Hechanova dies

Cecil Hechanova, the founding chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, died in his sleep Tuesday after suffering from a lingering illness. He was 84.

Under Hechanova’s watch, the Philippines hosted the 1991 Manila Southeast Asian Games where Filipino athletes wound up second overall in the medal tally after a dramatic battle to the finish with Indonesia.

Dubbed “The Miracle of ’91,” the Philippines came very close to winning the overall title with its 91 gold medals, just one victory short of Indonesia’s 92 golds.

Also part of his legacy was the country’s 1992 hosting of the 30th Chess Olympiad at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, the biggest and most prestigious chess tournament in the world.

Hechanova, brother of 1952 basketball Olympian Rafael Hechanova Sr., served as chairman of the government sports agency from its inception in 1990 to 1992 under the term of President Corazon Aquino.