Message from Samoa

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Manny Lopez was in Apia, Samoa, the other day when he learned that Thai middleweight fighter Suriya Prasathinpimai was stripped of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medal for illegal drug use.

Suriya outpointed Filipino Junie Tizon for the gold medal in Bangkok last year. Tizon now joins flyweight Annie Albania as the country’s only boxing gold medalists in the last SEA Games.

Suriya took a bronze medal, also in the middleweight division, at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The gold went to Russia’s Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov, the silver to Kazakhstan’s Gennadi Golovkin and the other bronze to the US’ Andre Dirrell. In the same Olympics, Thailand also captured a gold (lightwelterweight Manus Boonjumnong) and a silver (bantamweight Worapoj Petchkoom).

Lopez was in Samoa to attend the Oceania Olympic qualifiers.

In a text from Samoa, Lopez said: “Suriya is an Olympic qualifier and bronze medalist in Athens. It’s a shame that the host (Thailand) has done such a thing. We have stated all the while that they resort to everything just to get the gold. I hope that exonerates us.”

The Philippines has qualified only lightflyweight Harry Tanamor for the coming Beijing Olympics. Thailand has eight qualifiers although it’s now not certain if Suriya will be delisted and if he is, who will take his place.

Asia has 62 boxing qualifiers – 10 each from China and Kazakhstan, eight each from Thailand and Uzbekistan, five each from Korea and India, four from Mongolia, three from Tajikistan, two each from Iran and Japan, and one each from Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, the Democratic Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

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The PBA descended on Bacolod City last Thursday morning to start the All-Star Weekend festivities in time for campus tours of La Salle and West Negros, a tree planting activity, a plant visit, radio station interviews and an appearance at the Robinson’s mall.

The other day, the visitors graced the ribbon-cutting rites of Jam Ball at the Gaisano Mall, checked out the Bacolod Boys Home and paid a courtesy call on Mayor Bing Leonardia. In the afternoon, the North and South teams watched an elimination game of the Batang PBA Bacolod summer league at West Negros.

Yesterday, no games were scheduled but it was a full day for the stars. The cagers attended a kids clinic conducted by Norman Black at Bay Center and a coaching clinic handled by Boyet Fernandez and Ryan Gregorio at West Negros. Technical officials Romy Guevara and Ramil Cruz concluded the last of their three-day referees seminar.

The stars also signed autographs at the Panaad Stadium then went to Bahay Kalinga Village to assist workers in building and painting homes for the homeless. At night, the players mingled with fans at the PBA Kalinga Sa Kalikasan Street Party in the Goldenfields Compound.

Supporting the All-Star Weekend are Smart as title sponsor, Pigrolac as major sponsor and Slam Dunk presentor, Yakult as the Shooting Stars presentor, Coca-Cola as the Obstacle Challenge presentor, Mighty Bond as the Legends Shootout presentor, Rain or Shine, Air21, Accel, Magnolia Pure Water and outreach sponsors Fruit Magic and Hapee Toothpaste.

Postscript: From Rhea Navarro, formerly of Asian Basketball Confederation Promotions: “Thank you very much for stating matter of factly or accurately the status of the BAP. Truth to tell, the BAP ceased to exist ages ago when the Courts of Law and SEC declared BAPI as the rightful association superseding the BAP. I hope the undesirables in the BAP would already stop confusing the public, sowing intrigue and chaos so as to bring closure to the mess that has dragged on forever. These losers should move on. Matagal na nilang pinakinabangan at ginamit ang basketball. Tama na!” From sportsman Hermie Esguerra on the subject of watching a figher’s weight just before a bout: “It’s called point feeding. Agree 100 percent. In horseracing, I call it ‘fighting weight.’ I monitor the weight of my horse one week before and one week after a big race” ... Here’s a tip: “‘Sip & Soothe’ is the perfect place for that mid-week break! Every Wednesday, unwind to your favorite 70s, 80s and 90s hits and enjoy a 3-hour open bar from 7-10 p.m. on San Miguel beers and house wine for P280++ only in FIAMMA – 32 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air Village, hosted by Joaqui Trillo.”