Thursday, January 25, 2007 Game-fixing also rampant in cycling By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
CHEATERS not only abound in chess, they also victimize athletes in cycling.
Samahang Siklista Kooperatiba ng Dabaw (Ssikad) chair Salvador "Jun" Paholio Jr. revealed this to Sun.Star Davao Monday, and he is taking steps to stop the wrongdoing which has been going on for years now.
Paholio said the big guns in local cycling competitions usually carry out the malpractice to corner the top three finishes and the prizes that go with them, in the process preventing honest riders, specially the young ones, from winning.
Paholio said the cheaters usually number from three to four riders. All they do is let one of member of the game-fixing group do the pacing and just watch other cyclists.
Once the pace-setter from their group is being challenged or with one honest rider giving chase, the cheaters maneuver quickly and take the place of the pace-setter.
Paholio said the one who gave chase on the first pace-setter usually gets exhausted by the time the second pace-setter moves in, and that is almost impossible for him or her to regain strength right away.
"Laspag ka na so lisod na (You're already tires so its impossible to keep pace)," Paholio said.
He, however, refused to identify those involved in cycling game-fixing.
To prevent this from further happening, Paholio said he will introduce team competition from now on.
Paholio made the revelation following the game-fixing scandal that rocked chess in Manila where prominent players are involved.
Even chess leaders in Davao like National Chess Federation of the Philippines 11 director James Infiesto confirmed that game-fixing in chess is happening in Davao.
Ronnie Tabudlong, former NCFP 11 director and now a chess organizer, said game-fixing even exists in kiddie tournaments.
