ABAP regional meets to tap youth talents

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines has formed a regional tournament aimed at discovering talents from the countryside.

ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio yesterday announced the event, which would be bankrolled by Smart-PLDT led by ABAP chair Manny V. Pangilinan, starts with the Visayas leg slated March 22-28 at a still unspecified venue.

The Luzon leg, which included traditional boxing powerhouse National Capital Region, will follow suit from April 14-19, followed by the Mindanao stage from May 10-16 and the Southern Tagalog edition from June 5-10.

Panabo, Davao del Norte, a power in the sport with impressive runs in the National Open and the Palarong Pambansa, will host the Mindanao leg.

Gregorio said the event will serve to discover talented boxers from the provinces that would be tapped for future international competitions including the 2012 London Games where the country hopes to snare its first Olympic gold medal.

“ABAP’s focus is strengthening our grassroots program and come up with young boxers who could help us win our first Olympic gold in London,” said Gregorio.

ABAP, in fact, will field a team in the World Juniors Championship set from May 22-31 in Armenia.

“We’re reviewing the selection process now with the national coaches,” said Gregorio, who said they would use the results of regional tournaments and the Smart National Amateur Boxing Championships two weeks ago in Bacolod City as basis for selecting members of the team. – Joey Villar