Mananatili ang suporta ng MVP Group sa Philippine sports, sa kabila ng dagok na natamo ng kanilang pambato na si Ricky Vargas sa Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) election.

Ito ang ipinangako ni Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio bilang pagsasantabi sa hidwaan na nabuo nang idiskuwalipika ng POC Comelec si boxing president Ricky Vargas sa pagtakbo bilang pangulo ng Olympic body.

Si Vargas ay kilalang kaalyado ni Manny V. Pangilinan.

Napanatili ni Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco ang pagkapangulo sa ikaapat na termino via ‘unopposed’ matapos mabigo si Vargas sa hiling na TRO (Temporary Restraining Order).

Hindi rin nakalusot ang iba pang kagrupo ni Vargas na sina Rep. Albie Benitez ng badminton, Lucas Managuelod ng muay, at Sonny Barrios ng basketball sa kani-kanilang posisyon.

“We are committed to Philippine sports,” sambit ni Panlilio.

“I think it’s not about personalities but the commitment of the group to support Filipino athletes. Even as head of the MVP Sports Foundation, we identified nine sports that we will be directly supporting.”

Hindi dumalo sa halalan si Vargas. Sa kabuuan anim na national sports associations (NSA) ang hindi nakilahok sa halalan.

Hiniling naman ni Cojuangco ang pagkakaisa.

“That’s the only way,” pahayag ni Panlilio.

“I was hoping it was done much earlier than now,” aniya.

“There were initiatives to bring parties together but not all parties were there. But that’s (reconciliation is) the only way to go forward.”

“Philippine sports is much bigger than any individual. We have to think about the athletes. Ano ba ang kailangan nila? That’s the bigger cause. Marami ang kailangan nila, from training, exposure, to facilities. That’s the only way we can compete globally,” pahayag ni Panlilio.