INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines ? Amateur cycling has found a new godfather in businessman-sportsman Mikee Romero.

The basketball patron shifted gears and gave the sport a needed shot in the arm after pledging P5 million for the preparation of the national cycling team to the Southeast Asian Games in Laos at the end of the year.

?I feel sorry for our cyclists,'' said Romero, whose ballclubs Harbour Centre and Oracle won a combined seven straight championships in the Philippine Basketball League.

?I want to help them so I willingly accepted to become the godfather of the sport,'' he added.

Elected in absentia to the 15-man board of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, Romero is being groomed to sit as president of the group, which has the blessings of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Another group of cycling officials led by Tagaytay mayor Abraham ?Bambol?' Tolentino (PhilCycling) has the support of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the world governing body for the discipline.

?This leadership squabble has become a nuisance for the development of the sport. I'm calling for unity. People should sacrifice if they really love cycling,'' said Romero.

During the group's May 17 election, Rolando Hiso was named chairman while Romero became the runaway choice for president, a position he has yet to accept.

?I understand that a decision has to be made and I will make mine before the week ends,'' said Romero during Tuesday?s press conference at Kamayan Edsa attended by several officials and riders aligned with the POC-sanctioned PhilCycling.

Romero hinted, however, that he would accept the presidency if the conflicting parties would join hands and set their sights on duplicating the medal output of four golds by the Philippines in the last SEA Games two years ago in Thailand.

As a bonus, Romero also pledged to give out P200,000 for gold, P100,000 for silver and P50,000 for bronze medalists in the coming Laos SEA Games on Dec. 9-18 where four gold medals are stake.

?I'm not here as president but rather as a simple gesture to help the riders and the sport,'' said Romero. ?I truly believe that cycling could give the country its first gold medal in the Olympics.''

Apart from the incentives, Romero promised to bankroll the training and allowances of the national riders and officials for the SEA Games.

Romero also broached the idea of putting up a national qualifying any time soon to get the top cyclists for the national team.