‘MVP for prexy’ snowballs

The clamor for tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan to run for the Philippine Olympic Committee presidency gathered steam yesterday with several national sports associations assuring him of unequivocal support.

A press release circulated among sports circles said that NSAs batting for changes and reforms are asking Pangilinan to reconsider his earlier decision not to run for the POC top post against incumbent Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.

Pangilinan, the president of the basketball body and chair of the badminton and boxing associations, heavily funds eight other NSAs through his MVP Sports Foundation.

Citing lack of time, Pangilinan earlier turned down an offer by Cojuangco to become POC chair, which is mostly a ceremonial position.

The release, believed to be circulated by the NSAs themselves, cited sources who said a “perfect win-win scenario” is for Cojuangco to give way to Pangilinan so that the well-respected businessman could take the POC top post unopposed and present an image of a truly united PH sports.

“MVP is slowly feeling the pressure to take on the responsibility of going for the presidency,” said the release, quoting a POC insider. “He is already into several sports disciplines as benefactor so it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to imagine him taking on a bigger challenge.”

An Inquirer source said that the first plan was to field former boxing association president Manny Lopez against Cojuangco.

But Lopez will have to win back the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines presidency first as a requirement.

Incidentally, Lopez is likely to be pitted in Abap’s Oct. 20 polls against incumbent Ricky Vargas, a close ally of Pangilinan.

The same source added that the second plan is for Vargas himself to run for the POC top post, while the third is for somebody in the NSA bloc led by former POC and fencing president Celso Dayrit to challenge Cojuangco.

Whichever plan materializes, the source said Cojuangco’s rival will get the support of all the other major blocs within the POC family.

Meanwhile, athletics chief Go Teng Kok boasted receiving support from as many as 50 local and international sports leaders in his decision to seek the POC presidency.