Incumbent Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino seeks a fresh four-year mandate when he goes up against archery chief Atty. Clint Aranas for the top post of the country’s highest governing body for sports on Friday's election.

The procedure will be held at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant after lunch under strict health protocols.

Tolentino won the presidency in a special election held last July 2019, a month after Ricky Vargas stepped down from his post.

Running under Tolentino’s ticket are triathlon’s Tom Carrasco (for chairman), basketball’s Al Panlilio (first Vice President), fencing’s Richard Gomez (second VP), gymnastics’ Cynthia Carrion (treasurer), baseball’s Chito Loyzaga (auditor), and surfing’s Jose Raul Canlas, muay’s Pearl Managuelod, judo’s Dave Carter and chess’ Butch Pichay for board members.

Aranas’ running mates, meanwhile, are handball’s Steve Hontiveros (for chairman), athletics’ Philip Juico (first VP), wushu’s Julian Camacho (treasurer), weightlifting’s Monico Puentevella (auditor), and netball’s Charlie Ho, billiards and snookers’ Robert Mananquil, soft tennis’ Jeff Tamayo and squash’s Robert Bachmann as board members.

Rugby secretary general Ada Milby is running independently for second VP, although Aranas has adopted her in his ticket.

Tolentino hopes to continue the programs following a successful Southeast Asian Games participation that saw the Filipino athletes winning the overall championship.

His ticket also aims to strengthen the relationships with the national sports associations in helping them to be self-sustaining through strong partnerships with the private sector as well as the Philippine Sports Commission.

Read: ‘Unity, excellence’: Bambol proud of his ‘Performance Team’

“We aim for good governance and a trusted team of the PSC and the private sector. Kailangang may trust ang private sector sa POC so we can ask their assistance when needed,” Tolentino said in a previous interview.

Also a Tagaytay City Representative, Tolentino pushed for additional funding under the Bayanihan Act 2 to cover for the slashed allowances of national athletes and coaches due to the pandemic.

Aranas, meanwhile, fights for transparency and accountability while also seeking for a stronger presence in helping NSAs to be self-reliant.

“We don’t sell hard. We are offering an alternative. So it is up to the officials what they really want. If you want this to continue or if you want some solutions, then you decide,” Aranas said.

Early last month, Aranas was among the POC members who pressed the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee for the immediate submission of PHISGOC’s audited financial statements on the expenses for the country’s SEAG hosting last year.

He also petitioned to disqualify Tolentino and four other officials from his party on various grounds that include conflict of interest relating to SEAG matters, lack of time to be eligible to run, and a suspended corporate license, but the Election Committee chaired by Atty. Teodoro Kalaw IV denied these protests.

Fifty-four voters are expected to participate in the polls that include 51 NSA officials, two athletes representatives and International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski.

Among the voters, five availed of sealed balloting as they couldn’t make it to the venue.