P.5-M check can save clouters trip

A good post-dated check worth P500,000 and the RP men’s baseball team can join the trip to Doha.

The Philippine Sports Commission yesterday gave baseball officials led by Hector Navasero until Nov. 15 to come up with half a million pesos so they could be part of the RP delegation to the Asian Games.

Commissioner Ritchie Garcia allowed Navasero to issue a post-dated check as long as it can be encashed on or before Nov. 15, the day before Garcia leaves for Doha, Qatar.

Garcia is deputy chef de mission of the 351-strong RP delegation to the Asian Games set Dec. 5 to 15. Baseball is a late inclusion to the delegation and was allowed in as long as it provides its own funding.

As of yesterday, Navasero has P300,000 in pledges, another P300,000 courtesy of the Philippine Olympic Committee and P600,000 more representing an old, pre-approved financial assistance from the PSC.

With their P1.2 million, baseball officials are being asked to raise just P500,000 to ensure their stint in Doha. Budget for the 22-man team is pegged at around P80,000 per person.

"We will give baseball all the chances. I really would like them to join but he (Navasero) has to come up with the money. We’re trying to be lenient to him," said Garcia. The PSC is spending P30 million for the entire RP delegation. When the budget was approved, baseball was not on the list, and Navasero said he would raise the money as long as his team gets to compete in Doha. — Abac Cordero