PhilCycling: RP Team officials 'unpatriotic'

"Unpatriotic!" This is how Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) executive director Jojo Villa described Philippine delegation officials for asking gold medal contender Marites Bitbit from competing in the ongoing 25th Laos Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Vientiane.

"That, I believe is very unpatriotic for anyone to talk Tes (Bitbit) into not participating because she has all the right to represent the country in the races," Villa, who echoed the earlier statement by PhilCycling president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino during Friday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan in Manila. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco on Wednesday said that he convinced Bitbit to drop out and sign a manifesto of withdrawing from the race as a show of support to her teammates. Twelve of the 13-member RP cycling team were disqualified to compete after failing to secure licenses from the International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste Internationale, UCI), the world governing body of the sport. Only Bitibit is qualified to carry the country’s colors in the five events she is entered since she holds a UCI license and is recognized by PhilCycling’s two warring factions. The PhilCycling leadership is being contested by the group of Tagaytay City Mayor Tolentino, who enjoys the support of the Harry Angping-led Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and the POC-recognized faction of businessman Mikee Romero. "What hurts is Tes is she’s willing to fight for the country even by her lonesome. Kaya lang pinigilan daw siya mismo ng mga opisyal ng delegasyon bilang pakikisama doon sa mga na-disqualify na teammates niya," he lamented. Bitbit won a gold (individual road race) and two bronze (individual time trial and cross country) medals in the 24th SEA Games two years ago in Korat, Thailand. Villa said Bitbit really wanted to compete but was disappointed to be the victim of politics after being caught in the middle of an internal dispute between factions in her National Sports Association (NSA). "I was talking to (Bitbit Friday) morning and she was crying because she told me that she really wanted to compete because she felt she has a big chance to win at least two gold medals. Bitbit is favored to repeat her gold medal feat in the individual road race. "Malaki din daw ang pag-asa niya sa cross country event ng mountain bike, kasi yung tumalo sa kanya sa Thailand, wala na sa lineup," Villa said. Bitbit won the cross country bronze two years ago. "Hinayang na hinayang talaga siya. Kahapon nga, pilit niyang kinausap si Mr. Wajab (Asean Cycling Federation president Abdul Wajab) para payagan siyang kumarera. Dala niya ang license niya at lahat ng papeles na kailangan, kaso naunahan daw siya ng mga opisyal na me dalang notice to pull the entire team our of competitions, said Villa. Villa again called Bitbit, who is considered a cinch to win the gold in three of her five events, with the 30-year-old Cebu-based rider saying that she really wants to compete. Villa quoted Bitbit as saying: "Gusto ko po talagang kumarera alangalang sa bayan, kasi yun naman talaga ang dahilan kaya ako pinadala dito. Kausapin ku po uli si Mr. Wajab para humingi ng konsiderasyon. Yun po ang bilin ni mayor (Tolentino)." Cojuangco admitted to media men covering the Games that he, indeed, talked to Bitbit advising her to stand by her teammates and sign a manifesto withdrawing her participation. "I told her that it was Mr. Romero who sent you here and you’re going to participate against the wishes of your teammates," Cojuangco related. “I told her, you have to make your own decision here, it’s up to you. You just have to make it known that you are with the team." – GMANews.TV