NCFP reinstates Antonio

MANILA, Philippines - In a bid to boost the team’s chances in next month’s Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines has reinstated Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. into the delegation.

Antonio, who was earlier scratched from the roster for “disciplinary” reasons, will take his old spot from International Master Richard Bitoon and will rejoin fellow GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Eugene Torre in the Nov. 12-27 Asiad.

“Admittedly, Joey is one of our strongest players next to Wesley. But then again, we had to hand out disciplinary action for his failure to comply with the NCFP’s orders, that’s why he was delisted before. This time, though, he promised to follow the federation and make himself available everytime he’s needed to represent the country so we reconsidered,” NCFP executive director Willie Abalos told the STAR yesterday.

Antonio was pulled out of the team last August after failing to return from the US to compete in two tournaments here, the Pichay Cup and the Florencio Campomanes Cup.