CHITO Loyzaga accepted his failed bid for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) presidency like a true gentleman.
The one-time basketball star and current head of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) likened his bid for the highest position in the country’s Olympic governing body to a basketball game where there are winners and losers.
READ Bambol Tolentino soundly beats Chito Loyzaga in POC elections
Loyzaga lost to reelectionist Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, who was given a fresh four-year mandate during the POC polls held on Friday at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant in Pasay City.
“Parang basketball yan, meron natatalo, meron nananalo,” he said shortly after the five-hour proceedings. “This is not for me, but for the institution.”
The eldest son of the late basketball legend Carlos Loyzaga lost to Tolentino, the incumbent POC chief, by a wide margin, 45-15, that not even the never-say-die character he once advocated while playing for Robert Jaworski and Barangay Ginebra could save his initial bid for the POC hierarchy.
He and Tolentino graciously shook hands the moment Tolentino's win became official in an election involving 61 voting members consisting of 58 National Sports Association (NSA) heads, Athletes Commission members EJ Obiena and Nesthy Petecio, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.
The 66-year-old Loyzaga, a seven-time PBA champion, eight-time All-Defensive Team member, and among the 40 Greatest PBA Players, wished the newly-elected officers under Tolentino good luck and hope that they continue to prioritize the welfare of Filipino athletes.
“I hope they continue to manage the institution properly. That’s all,” he said before hurriedly leaving the venue.
In parting, Lozyaza said he’ll remain focused in elevating the country’s baseball program.
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