PhilCycling factions to hold joint tryout in choosing RP team

There's a strong chance that the Philippines might send a cycling team in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

That is, if the two warring factions in the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) could reach a consensus when they meet on Tuesday at the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) office in Pasig City.

This was according to veteran sports official Moying Martelino, who said that the Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino group and the Armando Bautista faction decided to hold a joint tryout to all cyclists before they choose the members of the national team to the 16th Asiad in November.

"When I talked to both parties, they initially agreed with the joint tryout. With those reactions, I think everything will come out nicely," said Martelino in Friday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan forum.

Martelino was chosen by the POC to mediate and settle once and for all PhilCycling’s leadership issue. “We look to device a way that athletes will be able to compete in the tryouts wherein no cyclist will be banned from competing."

The Philippines failed to compete in the 2009 Laos Southeast Asian (SEA) Games due to the leadership crisis with Tolentino’s group recognized by the international federation and Bautista’s group recognized by the POC.

Martelino, however, clarified that the meeting is not intended to solve the leadership crisis.

"We are not here to solve the leadership crisis. We just want the athletes to compete. They can continue with their bickering after we finished attending to the athletes’ welfare," said Martelino.

The POC had tapped Martelino to be a mediator for his vast knowledge in sports administration along with his independence as he is not handling any national sports association (NSA).