Main batch of Asiad bets leaves today

Ninety-seven athletes form the bulk of the Philippine delegation leaving for Doha, Qatar today, ready to do battle against the best in the region in the 15th Asian Games although the baseball team grabs the distinction of being the first to dive into action as it slugs it out with powerhouse Japan tomorrow.

The RP batters, who had to scrounge for funds to make it to the Games, are set to face the fancied Japanese, the 2002 Busan Asian Games gold medalists who topped the World Baseball Classic early this year, beating a talent-laden field that included the United States and Cuba.

Gametime is set at 12:30 p.m. (6 p.m. Manila time) tomorrow with the Filipino clouters taking on China on Nov. 30 and South Korea on Dec. 3.

Sepak takraw chief and deputy chief de mission Mario Tanchangco heads the contingent leaving for Doha at 2:20 p.m. today. It includes athletes from aquatics (13), beach volleyball (6), boxing (12), chess (5), artistic gymnastics (3), judo (10), sepak takraw (11), shooting (6), soft tennis (9) and weightlifting (3).

PSC chairman William Ramirez, who is also the chef de mission, left last Nov. 20. The first batch consisted of athletes from baseball (22), table tennis (3), badminton (3) and rowing (3) departed last Nov. 16, while the last batch, composed of three from karate, will leave on Dec. 9.

Flight schedules of the athletes have been spread out in batches because of the tight airline schedules to the Qatari capital.

The whole Philippine contingent to the quadrennial event consists of 335 athletes, coaches and officials.

Among the athletes leaving today, the RP boxers loom as the most likely to deliver the medals despite the absence of the team’s brightest gold medal hope in Harry Tanamor, who was replaced by Godfrey Castro.

The Philippines copped three golds, seven silvers and 16 bronzes in the 14th Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea.

Swimming is also tipped to deliver the goods on a team built around a couple of Fil-Ams and United States-based Miguel Molina, who one was one of the only three athletes who captured three gold medals in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games.

"He’s one of the country’s brightest hopes for a medal," said swimming chief Mark Joseph.

The Fil-Am pair of Diane Pascua and Heidi Illustre, bronze medalists in the Manila SEAG, is also expected to contend for top honors, its confidence boosted by strong finishes in Korea and Hong Kong tilts. They are expected to arrive early today from the US.

SEA Games multi-gold medalist John Baylon of judo is also included in today’s batch along with chessers Darwin Laylo and Ronald Dableo, who are expected to have their hands full against the top GMs from India, China and the former Soviet Union republics.

Equestrienne Toni Leviste is scheduled to leave tomorrow along with Mikee Cojuangco, one of the only three gold medalists in Busan, and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. POC spokesman Joey Romasanta left yesterday.

Leviste will be joining teammates Danielle Cojuangco and Paola Zobel, who will come from Europe, and Juan Ramon Laranza, who will fly in from Australia.

On Nov. 30, bowling (15), another gold medal prospect, cycling (10) and rowing (5) will leave in the morning flight while snooker and billiards (12) and lawn tennis (9) are scheduled to leave in the afternoon.