POC seeks inclusion of two cagers

MANILA—The Philippine Olympic Committee will file an appeal with the Asian Games organizing committee for the inclusion of Chris Lutz and Sol Mercado in the Smart Gilas Pilipinas five competing in the coming Asiad in Guangzhou, China, the Inquirer learned Wednesday.             
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala said Moying Martelino, a key figure in the country’s preparation for Asiad, will personally make the pitch for the two key players, who were not in the original 18-man lineup submitted by the SBP to the POC for accreditation.            Lutz, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard with Filipino roots, secured his Philippine passport only last month while the 6-foot Mercado, loaned by the PBA and Rain Or Shine to the RP five, was a late replacement for reigning PBA MVP James Yap, who begged off.   Meanwhile, RP chef de mission Joey Romasanta yesterday announced that up-and-coming female shooters Michaela Padilla and Shanin Gonzales were stricken off the Asiad roster by the Philippine National Shooting Association.   Romasanta said shooting officials cited the high level of competition in the  games as the reason for the pullout.   Padilla, daughter of veteran shooter Tac Padilla, and the 15-year-old Gonzales were part of the five-man developmental shooting team approved by the Philippine Olympic Committee for inclusion.   The Olympic body also ratified the non-participation of the men’s and women’s dragon boat teams in the Asian Games.   The 48-man dragon boat contingent surpassed the qualifying standards set by the POC last month in a performance trial held at the La Mesa Dam, but POC monitoring head Jeff Tamayo described the times as unrealistic.