Mabigat ang laban, ngunit kumpiyansa si Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) Executive Director Ed Picson na makakaagapay ang Pinoy boxer na sasabak sa Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament simula bukas sa Qian’an, China.
“Our boxers are focused on being dominant. They should be the ones to carry the fight,” pahayag ni Picson.
“The judges are looking for dominance and aggressiveness,” sambit naman ni head coach Pat Gaspi.
Akari Sports wala pang balak pasukin ang PBA
Ipinadala ng ABAP ang six-man PH delegation – binubuo ng limang lalaki at isang babae – sa torneo na nakataya ang slots para sa Rio Olympics sa Agosto.
Ayon kay Picson, malaki ang tsansa ng Pinoy, higit at awtomatikong pasok sa Olympics ang mangungunang tatlong boxer sa bawat weight class ng men’s division event.
Sa women’s class, tanging ang gold at silver medalist lamang ang mabibigyan ng slot sa quadrennial meet.
“Maka-bronze lang tayo okey na may Olympic slots na tayo,” sambit ni Picson.
Isasabak ng bansa sina lightfly Rogen Ladon, flyweight Roldan Boncales, bantamweight Mario Fernandez, lightweight Charly Suarez at welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial sa men’s side, habang tanging si flyweight Nesthy Petecio lamang ang sa women’s category.
Iginiit ni coach Boy Velasco, nanguna sa pagsasanay ng koponan sa US, na focus ang mga boxer at bawat isa ay may matinding paghahangad na makalaro sa Rio Olympics.
“They are our top contenders. These boxers are all ready to qualify to the Olympics,” aniya.
Kasama rin sa koponan sina coach Roel Velasco at Romeo Brin.
Matapos mabigo sa kanilang pakay sa nakalipas na World Championships sa Doha, Qatar nitong October, mas determinado sina Ladon at Marcial.
Tulad nila, hindi pahuhuli sina Suarez, silver medalist sa 2014 Asian Games at standout sa AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) tournament, gayundin sina Boncales at Petecio.
“Our boxers are going through the eye of the needle. But we are happy with our preparation. Our training camp in the United States was very productive,” pahayag ni Picson.
“We are very excited with this group. This is the best team we’ve had in seven years and hopefully it will translate to more qualifiers and eventually medals in the Olympics,” aniya.
Bukod sa China qualifying, nakalinya rin sa Philippine Team ang Final World Olympic qualifier sa Hunyo 14-26 sa Baku, Azerbaijan.
