Sisimulan ng Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) ang paghahanap ng mailap na Rio Olympics slots sa pagsabak ng six-man Philippine Team sa Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualifying tournament sa Marso 23 sa Qian’ An, China.
Tumulak kahapon patungong Mainland ang delegasyon na binubuo nina Rogen Ladon (light flyweight, 49 kg.), Roldan Boncales (flyweight, 52 kg.), Mario Fernandez (bantamweight, 56 kg.), Charly Suarez (60 kg.), Eumir Felix Marcial (welterweight, 69 kg.) at Nesthy Petecio (women’s flyweight, 51 kg.).
Ang anim ay kabilang sa 14 na boxer na sumalang sa 18-day training camp sa Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles at Las Vegas, Nevada kamakailan.
May kabuuang 242 lalaki at 55 babaeng fighter ang kalahok sa torneo kung saan nakataya ang Olympics slot para sa mga boxer mula sa Asya, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa at Pacific Islands.
Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!
Maliban sa Asia/Oceania qualifying event, sinabi ni ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson na may pagkakataon pa ang mga boxer na makapagkuwalipika sa Rio Olympics.
“There are three more qualifiers the other boxers may be entered in: the Women’s World Championships (Kazakhstan) and APB/WSB qualifiers (Bulgaria) in May and the Final AOB qualifiers (Azerbaijan) in June. We will send participants there,” ayon kay Picson.
Iginiit ni Picson na ang anim ay inirekomenda ng coaching staff na binubuo nina deputy head coach Nolito Velasco, women’s head coach Roel Velasco, 3-star Aiba coach at 3-time Olympian Romeo Brin, at female coach Mitchel Martinez.
Makakasama rin sa team ang ABAP Sports Science group na kinabibilangan nina nutritionist Arabella Ripoll, strength and conditioning coach Mark Limbaga, sports psychologist Marcus Manalo, at performance analyst Jeff Pagaduan.
“This is a potent group of dynamic boxers who trained long and hard, are properly motivated and highly inspired. We expect positive results from them in China next week. Godspeed and cheers to the team!” pahayag ni ABAP president Ricky Vargas. (ANGIE OREDO)
