INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Saying he only wants to save the country’s participation in the Southeast Asian Games in Laos, sportsman Mikee Romero on Wednesday agreed to assume the leadership of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Phil-ippines (PhilCycling).

But Romero said his tenure will only be on an interim basis.

“I am just here as a caretaker of the cycling body,” said Romero, who has pledged P5 million to the RP cyclists’ international exposure and campaign in the SEA Games.

“I don’t need a position to help but I need to accept this for the meantime so that our riders can vie in the SEA Games.”

Reluctant to accept the post even after he was elected in absentia last month, Romero said he was convinced by members of the RP team and the board members of PhilCycling.

“That was crucial in making the decision to accept the post,” said Romero, referring to his conversation with RP coaches Joselito Santos, Carlo Jazul and Gerardo Amar, the team members and former SEA Games winners Alfie Catalan and Victor Espiritu and Arnold Marcelo.

Romero reiterated his call for unity in the cycling community.

PhilCycling has two groups. The bloc of Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino is recognized by the Union Cycliste Internationale while Romero and former cyclist Rolando Hiso have the blessing of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

But cracks in the Romero group showed last month.

Hiso was picked as president and Romero as chair during the group’s May 17 elections. But in a subsequent meeting of the new officials, Romero was installed as president with Hiso as chair.