INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines--Let?s leave it to the national sports associations.

That, in effect, is the line the Philippine Olympic Committee wants to follow in selecting athletes for the Guangzhou Asian Games?which will have 476 events in 42 sports?on Nov. 12 to 27.

The POC working committee, with Moying Martelino and Mario Tanchangco as members, said Friday they have set up Feb. 15 as deadline for NSAs to submit names to the Asiad pool.

?They (NSAs) will submit the names and then it?s also up to them to justify their inclusion,? said Martelino who appeared as guest with Tanchangco during the Scoop sa Kamayan along Padre Faura in Manila.

?Let?s face it, who knows better which athletes deserve to be in the national teams? It?s the NSAs presidents,? said Martelino.

The Philippine Sports Commission earlier announced it will support Asiad bets who come closest to approximating bronze-medal standards of the Doha Asian Games four years ago.

Martelino didn?t comment on the PSC?s own criteria and said the issue of dealing with the PSC for funding is up to the chief of mission Joey Romasanta, who is currently in Singapore.

Martelino added that for measurable sports, NSAs must see how their athletes compare against the last Asian Games or Asian Championships level.

?For subjective sports, it?s the record of tournaments the athletes took part in. NSAs must justify that it?s Asian level and not just invitational,? he added.

The 223-strong RP Team during the Doha Asiad came home with four golds, six silvers and nine bronzes.