TOKYO—After quitting as the top sports patron of Ateneo, business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan has declared with finality that he is not interested in the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“It’s a full-time job and I don’t have the time,” Pangilinan said Saturday, adding that he has politely declined an offer from reelectionist POC president Jose (Peping) Cojuangco Jr. to serve as chair of the local Olympic body.
“I can help Philippine sports in a different capacity,” added Pangilinan, who bankrolls the Smart Gilas basketball program as president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and is also the chair of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.
Pangilinan, also a staunch supporter of taekwondo, badminton, cycling, tennis, running and football through his MVP Sports Foundation, said he is not supporting anybody in the POC polls this November.
“We want to stay neutral,” he said.
Asked, however, if he would still occupy that familiar patron’s section seat during Ateneo games, Pangilinan said: “Tapos na (it’s over).”
“Pagod na ako. Una, there was the plagiarism case, tapos the first mining blow up,” Pangilinan said. “Siguro tama na, strike three na tayo (I think that’s enough, we’ve reached strike three).”
Pangilinan severed ties with his alma mater on Friday because of Ateneo’s stand on mining and the controversial Reproductive Health bill now pending in Congress.
“I read last night the Jesuit Paper… and have come to the conclusion that this document, as drafted, is irreconcilable with our corporate position on mining and, for me, more importantly, my conviction as a Filipino,” Pangilinan wrote in the letter he sent to Ateneo.
Pangilinan has practically run the entire Ateneo sports program using his own money, in the process giving the school tremendous leverage in recruiting players.
Some of those current players have reportedly sent him text messages, but Pangilinan said that his love for basketball remains, and that they would be taken care of in a different capacity.
Even Bo Perasol, the newly-recruited University of the Philippines alumnus set to take over from Norman Black once the current UAAP season ends, need not worry.
“Sasaluhin ko si (I’ll take care of )coach Bo, because I had a hand in recruiting him,” Pangilinan said. “Di ko iiwanan si (I won’t abandon) coach Bo.”
The Final Four of the UAAP is just around the corner, and the Blue Eagles will be seeking a fifth straight title with Pangilinan out of view.