“With this Olympics fast-approaching, ceasefire muna tayo. Para wala munang damage or what,” Tolentino shared to the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

“Para sa bayan muna isipin natin.”

Tolentino hoped that the two parties would set aside the tensions between them and just focus on the big picture—conquering the Tokyo Olympics.

“Ganun talaga ang message ko. Focus muna tayo sa Olympics. Tsaka na natin pag-usapan yun after the Olympics,” he said.

At first, the boxer shared that the support he was getting was nothing compared to the likes of weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and pole-vaulter Ernest John Obiena. And later on, averred that the 43,000 assistance from the association is not enough.

“We were taken aback by his statements na wala raw suporta from the PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) and from ABAP, which is completely untrue,” federation secretary-general Ed Picson said in rebuttals Marcial’s claims.

Nevertheless, the POC chief double-ruled the priority of Tokyo bid saying that “huwag muna natin palakihin yung apoy. Ilang linggo na lang yan [Olympics], para hindi muna masira yung direksyon natin. After Olympics natin pag-usapan yan.”