BANGKOK – Genebert Basadre came up short in his efforts to win a gold medal for the Philippines in the just concluded 31st King’s Cup at the Gnongwongwan Mall here.
The 25-year-old product of the Misamis Oriental boxing program of Gov. Oscar S. Moreno, ABAP region X president under Asian Games gold medalist Bobby Jalnaiz, could not get his game going in the finals against a wily Apichet Sansit, getting blanked, 0-13.
Basadre tried to employ his strategy of engaging the Thai in close quarters, but got outpunched in the process as Sansit delivered combinations where the Filipino veteran could manage only one or two shots during exchanges.
Philippine delegation head and ABAP executive director Ed Picson conceded that although Basadre characteristically displayed good defense, he lacked the aggressiveness that seems to be the new trademark of Thai boxers.
“Thai boxers have improved a lot. They come at you more daringly and that seems to have a disconcerting effect on our boxers, leaving them waiting for opportunities instead of creating them. That said, perhaps the 0-13 score against Basadre was a bit of a stretch,” said Picson.
The Philippine delegation flew in at 4:30 a.m. Good Friday with Basadre’s silver, and two bronze medals from Gerson Nietes Jr.(48 kg light flyweight) and Joegin Ladon (60 kg lightweight).
The Smart/ABAP team placed fifth behind Thailand A (7 gold), Korea (1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze), Netherlands (1 gold) and Thailand B (3 silver and 1 bronze).
The last time the Philippines garnered gold in the tournament was in 2005 when Harry Tañamor ruled the light flyweight division. The best ever performance was in 1991 when now national coaches Ronald Chavez and Roehl Velasco each brought home a gold medal.
A total of 16 teams from 15 countries participated in the 31st staging of the event held in honor of their beloved 82-year-old Thai monarch, H.M. Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Other members of the team were boxers Aston Francis Palicte, Joan Tipon and Charly Suarez, coaches Ronald Chavez and Elmer Pamisa and international referees/judges Dante de Castro and Jesus San Esteban.
The Philippine participation was funded by the Philippine Sports Commission and Smart Communications.