Garcia set to be named Sports Commission chair

For the third time around, former national golfer Ritchie Garcia is bound to be appointed in the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). But now, he will be holding no less than the highest position in the government funding agency. Reliable sources both within the PSC and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) have confirmed that Garcia is the man tasked to succeed former Manila congressman Harry Angping as head of one of the highest sports governing bodies in the country. Garcia twice served as PSC commissioner in the past, the last of which came under the chairmanship of William `Butch’ Ramirez. A source who requested not to be named pending the official announcement of the appointment by Thursday at the latest, said Garcia has been asked to submit his resume as several sports officials and political leaders close to President Aquino are reportedly backing him as the most qualified to take the position of PSC chief. Garcia’s name has been among those mentioned in the list of probable nominees for the post, that also include former Senator Robert Jaworski, POC vice-president Manny Lopez, swimming association head Mark Joseph, former PSC chairman Philip Ella Juico, amateur boxing association head and ex-PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, one-time sports editor Clarito Samson and former Gintong Alay project director Joey Romasanta, now the POC spokesperson. Reached for comment, Garcia would rather not confirm the report as no official appointment has been given him as of post time. Comprising Garcia’s team as PSC commissioner are former tennis association head Salvador Andrada, swimming champion Akiko Thomson, one-time basketball star Joaquin `Chito’ Loyzaga and Atty. Jolly Gomez, reportedly of Little League Baseball, whose leader Totoy Tingzon, is a close friend of POC president Jose `Peping’ Cojuangco. Thomson was the only one retained as commissioner from Angping’s chairmanship, while Gomez reportedly got the position after soft tennis head Jeff Tamayo begged off from the post. If and when the appointment becomes official, Garcia will definitely have his hands full as the country is now in the thick of preparations for two major international tournaments within the next four months, namely, the World Youth Olympics this August in Singapore and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November. - RCJ, GMANews.TV