Longtime Philta chief to resign to pave way for polls

Embattled Philippine Tennis Association president Salvador Andrada on Wednesday said he would step down from his post effective Monday to give way to a general election to be called within the next 30 days.

Andrada said secretary general Romeo Magat would then call for elections, this time including the position of the president, something they didn’t do last Feb. 8 which created an impasse in the association’s board of trustees.

“Unity is what I hoped to achieve but I believe it’s not possible, so I will resign to finally give way to whoever is willing to take over,” Andrada told the Inquirer.

The long-time Philta chief said he would not run for any position but would nominate a candidate whom he feels is best for the position.

The group of Philta chair Jean Henri Lhuillier and vice president Randy Villanueva didn’t give a statement.

The development came on the heels of massive pullout of top tennis sponsors Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Express which fund 80 percent of tournaments in the country.