BY JONAS TERRADO
Nonong Araneta was re-elected as president of the Philippine Football Federation after topping Negros Occidental Football Association chief Ricky Yanson in Friday’s congress at the Century Park Hotel.
Araneta received 23 votes while Yanson got 12 during the polls participated by regional Football Association heads and member clubs to earn a third four-year term as head of the country’s national football federation.
Joselito Pinol was likewise re-elected as vice president after defeating Percy Guarin, 21-14.
The elections were conducted by a committee led by Philippine Sports Commission Executive Director Guillermo Iroy with National Golf Association of the Philippines Secretary General Bones Floro serving as Philippine Olympic Committee observer.
Araneta heaved a sigh of relief after his post was threatened for the first time since beating Mari Martinez during a PFF congress in Nov. 2010.
The former football and basketball star at University of the Philippines declared his candidacy in mid-October in a move Araneta saw as a way to preserve the unity within the local football scene.
Thirty-two regional clubs and PFL clubs Ceres, Kaya-Iloilo and Stallion-Laguna took part in the voting process.
The congress earlier approved the entry of Ceres, Kaya and Stallion as voting members.
