133 make Asiad grade

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 133 athletes have qualified for the 17th Asian Games.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia, the country’s chef de mission, said the Asian Games task force came up with that number after a meeting with national sports associations bound for the Incheon, South Korea, meet on Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

The task force hasn’t released the names yet but men’s basketball, women’s softball and men’s rugby players were among those who made the grade.

Meanwhile, the PSC board upheld its decision to expel track and field coaches Joseph Sy and Roselyn Hamero from the payroll of the government sports agency based on the recommendation of an independent three-man panel which investigated the case.

Sy was removed for allegedly missing the training of his athletes in Baguio City prior to the Southeast Asian Games last year while Hamero was accused of falsifying the qualifying time of hurdler Josie Malacad to qualify for the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang.

They both received a monthly allowance of P20,000 from the government.