Panlilio eyes ‘Eala path’ to golf success as new NGAP head
Al Panlilio will head a different National Sports Association in a two-year term that started after getting unanimously elected on Thursday and the 63-year-old has a clear vision of what he wants the sport of golf to achieve.
“Let’s take the (Alex) Eala path to success as a blueprint,” Panlilio told the Inquirer hours after being named National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) president at Manila Golf Club. “The way she has revived the sport (of tennis in the country) is what we want to do for our sport.
“And we will start with creating a truly solid national team program, so that we have teams that can represent our country well (in international tournaments).”
Taking over from businessman Martin Lorenzo, who is now chair, Panlilio will also focus his efforts on sustaining the grassroots level program.
When he headed the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas until October last year, it was one of his biggest projects.
“That’s very important, because everything starts at that level,” Panlilio, an avid golfer, said. “We need to strengthen that and I honestly feel that the talent is already there; we just have to discover all of them and nurture them to become national team-caliber.”
A member of the board for more than 12 years, Panlilio started being active with the NGAP last year, when he made the revival of the Philippine Open possible at Manila Southwoods by helping come up with the $500,000 pot that lured some of the best players in Asia.
Eala has put the Philippines in the world’s consciousness with worthy performances in top-tier WTA events that started in the Miami Open last year.
“She has elevated her sport without actually winning an event yet. And she will, eventually,” Panlilio said. “We also want to take the route by playing in big events and showing that Filipinos can win in golf.”
He also thanked Lorenzo for heading the association.
