So joins PSC list of elite athletes

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Wesley So will join the roster of “elite athletes” set to get full financial backing from the Philippine Sports Commission in its buildup for this year’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

PSC chair Harry Angping said So’s recent exploits abroad, including a Last 16 finish in the World Chess Cup last November, were enough for the 16-year-old Bacoor City, Cavite native to be included in the elite group headed by netters Cecil Mamiit and Treat Conrad Huey and bowler Biboy Rivera.

So will thus get a monthly stipend of P20,000 plus a choice international stints on a quarterly basis.

“In case of chess, Wesley So is a shoo-in because as we can see, he’s obviously our best bet,” Angping said.

The PSC chief, however, is still in the process of finalizing the list since most of the NSAs (national sports associations) have yet to submit their respective programs and recommendations.

“He (So) will get the same package, which means the same salary plus international exposures,” Angping said.

He added that the PSC would be willing to put up a minimum of P1 million and a maximum of P2 million to finance So’s training for the Guangzhou games.

“In case of Wesley So, I’m open to set aside P1M or P2M just for him alone. Wesley would surely enjoy the privilege,” he said.

The same package, however, could not be said for the other Filipino chess players.

“The others we’ll just subsidize partially, not full. We’ll let the association (National Chess Federation of the Philippines) augment the rest,” said Angping.

He also bared a plan of granting elite status to reigning World 10-ball women’s champion and 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Rubilen Amit.

“The same thing will probably be applied with billiards, we’re just finalizing everything,” he said.

So is coming off an impressive performance in the World Cup where he beat former world champions Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Gata Kamsky of the US.

He finished fourth in Group B of the tough Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands last month and is currently participating in the Aeroflot Open in Moscow, Russia along with fellow GM Darwin Laylo.

So is now ranked 76th in the world with a FIDE rating of 2656, the highest by any Filipino.

Angping is also eyeing a new batch of elite athletes to be funded for the Guangzhou Games in November and the London Olympics in 2012.

Angping, however, clarified those not listed in the elite group will still get their monthly allowance as members of the national training pool.

“Those who in the training pool will still get their monthly allowance starting this February but not as big as those elite athletes,” said Angping.

Aside from Mamiit, Huey, Rivera, So and Amit, the PSC is also considering long jumper Marestella Torres, boxer Annie Albania, tanker Miguel Molina and taekwondo jin Toni Rivera to be included in the elite roster.