Reelected Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will convene the new POC Executive Board on January 9, with the first General Assembly scheduled for January 15.
“Work starts in earnest,” Tolentino remarked, highlighting the challenges of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, where he expects a tough competition but is confident in the performance of Filipino athletes and national sports associations.
Tolentino also pointed to numerous international events in 2025, including the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, and the rescheduled Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Jeddah, as key highlights.
Building on the success of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Carlos Yulo won two golds and Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas earned bronzes, Tolentino aims to continue the upward trajectory of Philippine sports. He expressed confidence in the capabilities of national sports associations (NSAs) to achieve even higher goals.
Tolentino’s “Working Team,” which secured a decisive victory in last month’s POC elections, includes key figures like first vice president Al Panlilio (basketball) and second vice president Richard Gomez (modern pentathlon). They received overwhelming support from the NSAs.
Tolentino emphasized that the successful approach used by athletes like Yulo and weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo will be refined to further strengthen Philippine sports, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in sight.