Jolly parbuster Clavecilla new PSC commish

WIGBERTO “Iggy”  Clavecilla, the champion senior golfer, was yesterday appointed as the newest commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission.

Informed by PSC chair Richie Garcia of Malacañang’s approval yesterday morning, the jolly 64-year-old Clavecilla pledged to improve the welfare of the national athletes.

Clavecilla joins a PSC team that will try to help the country get out of the pits in international competitions.

He did not deny that his endorsement came from Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., an uncle of President Aquino.

Clavecilla is a teammate of Garcia in the Luisita squad handled by Cojuangco in the PAL Seniors Interclub.

“They both (Cojuangco and Garcia) know me to be an independent thinker,” Clavecilla told the Inquirer. “If there is an issue, and I am not in consonance with them, we would need to talk things over.

“For me, it will all be about service to our (national) athletes.”

Clavecilla won out in a short list of candidates to replace Chito Loyzaga, who resigned to take care of his ailing father, the basketball legend Caloy, in Australia.

Clavecilla joins Jolly Gomez, Akiko Thomson-Guevara and ex-tennis head Salvador “Buddy” Andrada as commissioners.

“I would like to welcome Commissioner Clavecilla to the PSC whom we believe to be a great asset in the continuance of our thrust in the development of the Filipino athlete,” said Garcia. “He will be an asset to the commission. He’s not new to sports and he understands the problems of the athletes because he’s also an athlete.” With a report from June Navarro