PSC OKs 6 more elite athletes for Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines - A young grandmaster, two US-based tankers, a lady long jumper, a cue artist and a karateka were included in the elite pool of athletes that will receive special benefits from the Philippine Sports Commission as they prepare for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games this November.

PSC chair Harry Angping yesterday identified chess’ Wesley So, swimming’s Miguel Molina and Fil-American Daniel Coakley, long jumper Marestella Torres, karatedo’s Marna Pabillore and billiards’ Rubilen Amit as the new batch of athletes who would get a P20,000 monthly allowance plus international exposure of their choice.

The new batch of elite athletes will join Fil-Am netters Cecil Mamiit and Treat Conrad Huey and bowler Biboy Rivera who first made it to Team A. The three were the first to qualify since their NSAs were the first to submit their complete lineups and programs to the PSC.

Angping also named the first batch of national pool athletes – numbering 187 – who would get P10,000 to P15,000 monthly stipend plus one or two international trips. He is expecting more to come since some NSAs have yet to submit their official rosters and programs.

“We came up with this list, 187 athletes, and out of these we have nine elite athletes and we’re expecting more since some NSAs have yet to submit their rosters,” said Angping.

Of the total, 50 came from traditional boat race – 25 men and 25 women – 16 from taekwondo and 15 from women’s basketball.

Angping said he had difficulty approving dragon boat since the PSC has allotted only P12 million for the Guangzhou Games but ended up approving it anyway since the country is assured of at least two gold medals in these events.

Dance sports, bowling and rugby came in next with 12 athletes apiece, followed by soft tennis (11), athletics and karatedo (10), shooting (8), sailing (7), rowing (5) windsurfing and lawn tennis (4), and triathlon and weightlifting (3).

The PSC is also set to approve the inclusion of some more tankers and members of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas mentored by Serbian Rajko Toroman.

Angping, however, is still awaiting the lists from boxing, billiards and golf, which all have a strong chance of medalling in the quadrennial 45-nation meet.

The rest, including squash and football, didn’t meet qualifying standards.

Angping clarified that all athletes in the national team would be subjected to a physcial examination and would be liable for termination if they fail the physical test or lag behind in training.

“The PSC has the right to preterminate if they did not meet the standard; they would also undergo checkup and would be instantly removed if they did not pass the test,” said Angping.