ABAP's bold strokes

The recent change in leadership at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines is a sign that the national sports association is dead serious on ending over a decade of frustration in going for an Olympic gold medal, and that those who were part of the status quo have humbly given up their stubborn hold on the reigns to become part of the solution.

What does it mean that PLDT’s Manny Pangilinan has been voted chairman and former PBA chairman Ricky Vargas president alongside him? Neither of them has any experience in boxing.

Be that as it may, the pair of proven business leaders have certain unique gifts that would tilt the balance in the country’s favor in the Olympic quest. For one, last year PLDT-Smart threw its financial muscle behind ABAP’s Olympic campaign, but was rudely disappointed not just with the results, but with the way the effort was handled overall. The publicized embarrassment with the Olympic qualifiers beginning in Chicago also prompted the sponsor to seek ways to remedy the situation. Who wants to be associated with a loser?

Secondly, Pangilinan and Vargas have also shown a keen ability to identify people who can take on and carry projects to completion. Given the constraints of politicking, time and preparation, the Philippine men’s basketball team was two close losses away from getting into the Olympics. Going into that battle was no easy choice, but it was what was needed to be done.

Also, Manny Lopez’s ultimate sacrifice of stepping down to vice-president is a concession that he needed help, and was willing to go to an extreme to get it. As a vice-president of an NSA, Lopez is still eligible for higher posts within the Philippine Olympic Committee hierarchy, whose elections is coming up fast.

Intriguing was the choice of Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez as vice-president for Mindanao. This is no joke. The understated former teacher from Davao has considerable clout in the south, more so with the high credibility and undeniable success of his Sports for Peace program throughout Mindanao. Ramirez, who has repeatedly offered to step down in command responsibility of the failure of others under his watch, once intimated to this writer he thought he could be of better service with a direct hand in ABAP, to ensure that, with him as political patron during competitions, our boxers would finally get an Olympic gold or two.

Failing another invitation from President Arroyo to stay on, Ramirez has said he will concentrate on the Philippine Sports Institute after December. In this way, the former basketball coach feels he may leave a lasting legacy that will continue to serve Philippine sports after he is gone. But his burning itch to fulfill a mission unaccomplished still remains. He must help get that Olympic gold first before he considers his job done.

Now, the search is on for an executive director who will handle the day-to-day movement of ABAP. What is needed is someone who understands amateur boxing, has been around the game for a long time, has considerable credibility, and will not compromise. As always, a professional manager is priority.

The first thing ABAP will do is identify the talent that can be found in many places in the south that have been ignored before. A pool of 30 to 50 boxers would keep competitive spirits high. Uniting boxing promoters and managers will also be a good first step in this direction. Better amateur boxers will have greater recognition when they turn pro. A great many Olympic champions have gone on to great fame as pros.

Next, ABAP will have to find the best coaches for the pool. Whether Cuban or American, it will have to be someone in it for the long haul who will be well-compensated.

A series of local tournaments should also be planned. The sad fact of the matter is that amateur boxing has not really drawn big audiences on television in recent years, since the athletes have head gear and big gloves, and knockouts are infrequent. But a steady diet of amateur boxing on TV and a healthy dose of audience education on the sport’s nuances will grow the viewership.

The work now begins in earnest. The Southeast Asian Games is a year away. The rollercoaster begins again.

And the clock is ticking.