Asiad roster final count: 191 athletes

MANILA, Philippines - A 284-strong delegation, 191 of them athletes, will represent the Philippines in the 16th Asian Games scheduled Nov. 12-27 in Guangzhou, China. “This is the final count,” said Moying Martelino of the RP Asian Games screening committee during yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue.

The former secretary-general of the Asian Basketball Confederation said the list does not include those who tried to make the RP team at the last minute.               

“We submitted the applications of our late entries. But we have not received any confirmation from Guangzhou,” he said.               

Martelino, who was joined in the forum, also backed by Outlast Battery, Pagcor and Shakey’s, by Philippine Sports Commission commissioner Chito Loyzaga, said the 44-member RP dragonboat team is out of it.               

“The dragonboat team is out,” said Martelino of the men’s and women’s team who made a final appeal for inclusion from the Philippine Olympic Committee board.               

Among the late entries, submitted way past the Oct. 30 deadline from Guangzhou, were around a dozen more athletes from shooting, chess and basketball.               

Martelino is confident that the Philippines will surpass its showing in 2006 in Doha.              

 “Personally I think that with the preparation and training and the choosing of our athletes, we should improve on the finish we had in Doha. We’re talking of 4 (gold), 6 (silver) and 9 (bronze). We’re looking at something better,” he said.               

Loyzaga, part of the RP basketball team that won silver in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, is just as confident.              

 “Considering the amount of time we spent and the resources that were made available and put together, I have a good feeling. Their spirits are high and that they’re looking forward to compete. They will give it their best shot,” he said.

Martelino said there’s little hope that the inclusions will be made considering that the Games are just 17 days away, and that billeting are already being finalized.               

More than 12,000 athletes and officials will take part in this Asian Games, almost twice as much as those who were in Doha in 2006, but only 6,000 will be allowed to join the opening-day parade.               

“The final count is 191 athletes, 53 coaches, 16 managers, 12 medical people, 10 administrative people, the chef-de-mission, which is Joey Romasanta, and his deputy, Chippy Espiritu,” said Martelino.               

The top POC officials, including its president, Jose Cojuangco, will be there as guests of the Olympic Council of Asia, while their PSC counterparts, led by chairman Richie Garcia, will travel on their own and be there as VIPs. Martelino said the first batch, made up of nine officials, will leave on Nov. 9 to attend the delegation representatives’ meeting where they will go through the entire list of those who will be allowed in the Games Village.               

“And by the time the main bulk of 140 persons leaves on Nov. 10, everything will be ready, especially their billeting. It’s not the number of rooms, the number of beds. No room assignments but bed assignments,” he said.