Torres, Diaz must meet criteria–Garcia

WHILE  Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia wants veteran Olympians Marestella Torres and Hidilyn Diaz in Team Philippines to the Incheon Asian Games,  he said he can’t do anything unless the two meet the  criteria set by the Task Force Asiad.

The PSC chief, in a radio interview yesterday, said the Task Force  will come out with the decision next week whether to allow the seasoned long jumper Torres  and weightlifter Diaz to join the PH delegation as both are still struggling to meet the qualifying standards.

“These are elite athletes we are talking about,” said Garcia, who is also the chief of mission for Team Philippines in the Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 Games. “I hope they qualify.”

Garcia said there are factors to be considered in the case of both athletes. Torres, the former Asian champion, just started training after giving birth last January, while Diaz changed coaches and still need time to adjust.

As for newly naturalized player Andray Blatche, the PSC chair said there’s no opposition so far from the Asiad organizing committee which had already accepted the credentials of the Brooklyn Nets star as member of the Gilas Pilipinas national five.

He said he will fly to Incheon Sept. 10 to make sure there are no problems when the entire delegation arrives by Sept. 13.

“Just in case, I have three days to argue for the (PH delegation) list,” added Garcia.

No decision has been made on the official carrier. Garcia said the schedule offered by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines airlines will be considered as one airline offers a departure at 1 a.m. and the other at 3 p.m.