But PSC chairman Harry Angping yesterday said this does not mean that anybody who wants to go can go.

“We’re only talking about the best of the best,” said Angping yesterday, adding that he’s looking at around 100 athletes that should represent the country in this year’s Asian Games.

The Philippines fielded 233 athletes that competed in 31 sports in the Doha Asian Games in 2006 and they took home four gold medals, two of them courtesy of boxing and one each from wushu and billiards.

The Philippines also brought home six silver (two each in billiards and taekwondo and one each in karate and wushu) on top of nine bronze (three in taekwondo, two in boxing and tennis and one each in karate and golf).

Angping said 233 athletes may be too many for the Asian Games, and added that by sending only the best, the Philippines can double the gold medal output four years ago.

“Two hundred thirty three athletes are too much. No way, no way, no way,” he said, adding that it’s been proven in the Laos SEA Games last December that the country is better off sending less athletes as long as they all have chances of winning.

Angping said from now until October, the PSC could easily spend P150 million for the allowances, training expenses, overseas exposures and the hiring of foreign coaches for the members of the Asian Games delegation.

And for the actual participation, which will also include allowances, uniforms and equipment, transportation and board and lodging, the PSC can spend another P50 million.

“What we’re saying is that we’re ready to spend this much. It’s no joke. It’s big if you look at it but it’s not really too much if we’re talking about the best of the best,” said Angping.

The Philippines sent only 251 bets to Laos, one of the leanest RP delegations ever, but won 38-35-51 medals and jumped from sixth overall in 2007 in Thailand to fifth overall.

In the Thailand SEA Games two years ago, there were more than 600 Filipino athletes that won 41 gold medals on top of 91 silver and 96 bronze medals. Angping said it’s always safer to go with quality than quantity.

He said the PSC is now in the process of forming the pool of elite athletes and after meeting with 10 NSAs (national sports associations) only five athletes so far have made the grade.

“These five athletes, starting next month, will receive P20,000 a month in allowances. We are looking at more athletes to make the elite pool but those who will not make it will remain in pool getting P15,000 a month,” he said.

The selection of the athletes to the elite pool Angping stressed, will all be subject to consultations with the different NSAs. He did not name the five athletes who already made the grade but hinted that long jump star Marestella Torres is one of them.

The PSC chief said any athlete that comes close to the bronze medal effort or standard in the 2006 Asian Games will have a strong chance of making it to Ghuangzhou, and winning a gold in the SEA Games is not an assurance.

“But there will be borderline cases,” he said. – Abac Cordero