Vargas aims for ‘best of the best’

MANILA, Philippines — PBA/ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas is hoping for “the best of the best” in pro basketball and amateur boxing, the sports under his watch, as 2025 unfolds with big plans in the works.

For PBA, Vargas said his dream is to occupy its own home. There is talk that space may be available for a building to be constructed at the Metrowalk Commercial Complex on Meralco Avenue, Pasig. He also said setting up PBA regional teams in the Visayas and Mindanao would be a long-term goal. This year, PBA will celebrate its golden anniversary with the announcement of the 50 greatest players in April and possibly, a gala night in October.

For amateur boxing, Vargas said his wish is for IOC to recognize World Boxing as an international federation “but foremost, is reinstating boxing in the Olympics.” IOC has deleted boxing from the LA calendar in 2028 but kept the door open for a return on condition a new international federation is accredited by IOC. Vargas is an Executive Board member of the Swiss-based World Boxing which was established in April 2023 and now has 68 nations in its fold. Last Friday, World Boxing added eight more national federations to its growing membership. The new members are France, Croatia, Poland, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Turkmenistan and Samoa.

Vargas added that “specific to ABAP, international success for our boxers” will always be a goal. ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo said the national pool will report to training camp in Korea in April then selected boxers will battle in the Thailand Open in May and Elorda Cup in Kazakhstan in June. The main tournaments to prepare for are the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool in September and SEA Games in Thailand in December. Vargas’ other wish is for boxing to be included in varsity sports competitions in the UAAP, NCAA and others.