POC-PSC link a key to progress

POC spokesman Joey Romasanta said the other day a priority in planning a sports development program for the next four years up to the 2012 London Olympics is to establish a close working relationship with the PSC and it will be a principal point of discussion in a summit meeting set Jan. 17-18 at the Luisita Center in Tarlac.

Romasanta said Dr. Chippy Espiritu, an expert in corporate planning, finance and change management, will facilitate the summit which is convening the newly elected POC Executive Board. POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., who arrives from the US today, will preside in the two-day planning session.

Romasanta said the Executive Board will meet Wednesday to finalize the details of the summit. He didn’t rule out the option of delaying the summit because POC chairman Rep. Monico Puentevella will be busy hosting the ABAP National Open on Jan. 16-24.

Before the Christmas break, Romasanta and PSC commissioner Fr. Vic Uy met to take up preliminary points of coordination in firming up a system of liaison. Romasanta said the early meeting set the stage for opening clear communication lines between the POC and PSC in moving towards the common goal of producing the country’s first Olympic gold medal in London.

“Our objective is the same,” said Romasanta. “So it’s vital that the POC and PSC work together to determine how to get where we want to go. Fr. Vic and I talked about preferred and correctible conditions, how our programs could interrelate, what are our expectations and what are our realistic directions. For the POC and PSC, it’s really all about a meeting of the minds.”

Romasanta said boxing looms as a priority sport in preparing a workable plan of action to culminate in the Olympic breakthrough. That’s why the National Open will be a focus of attention.

“During Roy Golez’ term as ABAP president before 1988, I remember we had a program that brought stakeholders from all over the country together,” said Romasanta. “Sta. Lucia Realty, through Excy Robles, was a primary sponsor. Excy would even accompany our boxing teams in overseas championships, like the annual King’s Cup in Bangkok. I also remember Tony Aldeguer of Cebu was involved in our boxing program. At the time, Tony’s concentration was on amateur boxing and his brightest prospect was Gerry Peñalosa.”

Romasanta said Aldeguer later became disenchanted with the ABAP’s approach and pulled out to form a professional stable. Peñalosa eventually became a two-time world champion in the pros.

Romasanta said he is optimistic the new ABAP leadership of chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas will regroup stakeholders in a unified effort to hit paydirt in London.

“I think winning in international boxing has a lot to do with politics, let’s face it,” said Romasanta. “It’s 50 percent what you show in the ring and 50 percent good relations with AIBA. To get ahead, maybe, we could expand our pool of referees and judges so we are in a better position to represent ourselves in international competitions. We could also bid to host major events so we can regain our standing before AIBA officials.”

The National Open will assemble some 500 fighters in different weight categories and age groups. Romasanta said this will open the doors for ABAP to expand the national pool.

“In Beijing, it was evident that Harry (Tañamor) was well scouted,” said Romasanta. “If we had a larger pool, it would’ve been a little more difficult for opponents to keep track of our fighters in terms of scouting. Also, a larger pool would’ve meant expanding the experience our fighters need to make an impact in the major tournaments.”

ABAP tournament director Roger Fortaleza said the national pool of some 50 fighters, including 10 females, will display their wares in Bacolod. World Cup lightflyweight titlist and two-time Olympian Harry Tañamor will participate if the swelling in his right hand is gone.

It is in the elite division (19-34 years old) where the competition will be fiercest. The elite men will fight three rounds of three minutes each, the new AIBA format. A fight will be automatically stopped after three knockdowns in a round or an accumulation of four. The elite women will fight four rounds of two minutes each.

Fortaleza said fighters will compete in 10 elite men’s divisions from pinweight (46 kilograms) to heavyweight (over 80 kilograms). While pinweight is not recognized in the Asian Games and Olympics, it is a regular category in the SEA Games.

Fortaleza said the National Open intends “to widen the identification and recruitment of potentially talented boxers who will be scientifically trained and molded into highly competitive athletes (to) represent and bring honors to the country in international competitions.”

Bantamweight prospect Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr. has been invited to join the tournament after he decided to delay his pro debut.