ABAP says Milan mishap an eye-opener

MILAN, Italy – Despite the painful defeat in the 15th AIBA world championships here, the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) is optimistic Filipino boxers will rise and be competitive in the big stage again.

“We have the materials. We have a potent mix of experience, youth and talents. We’ll see to it that none of these goes to waste,” ABAP executive director Ed Picson said here on Tuesday.

 “Our participation (in the world championship) was a learning experience,’’ he added.

Five boxers – light-fly Harry Tañamor, bantam Joan Tipon, feather Charly Suarez, lightweight Joegin Ladon and light-welter Genebert Basadre – carried the national colors in the ongoing world meet that drew more than 600 boxers from a record 144 nations.

Alas, none of them made it past the second round in a big letdown that had the new ABAP hierarchy going back to the drawing board to plan for the future.

“We cannot afford to let our boxers train among themselves and expect to win in a tournament like this one,’’ said Picson, tasked by ABAP chairman Manny Pangilinan and ABAP president Ricky Vargas to handle the association’s affairs and programs.

“Now that this fact has been unraveled to us in the most painful way, we will implement the program that involves constant training and participation in local and international tournaments.’’

Picson said they hope to partner with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by chair Harry Angping and the private sector in carrying out the association’s programs.

 “While PLDT and Smart are already committed, I am sure there are those who would like to pitch in for this national effort,’’ Picson said.    

The task of making the Philippines’ presence felt in international competitions begin when the boxers spearhead the bid of Team Pilipinas in the Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December.

    According to Picson, tryouts among the more than 40 members of the national pool, presently training in Baguio City, will be held to select the RP team members seeing action in six of nine divisions to be disputed in the Laos Games.

    Its search for future RP team members is in full swing, with the second of a series of national youth tournaments kicking off in a few days in Mandaluyong City.          

Before going to the Milan tournament, now on its quarterfinal round stage, the five-member RP squad competed only in one tournament, which was the annual King’s Cup in Bangkok.

In fact, Tanamor saw action competitively for only the first time last Saturday since winning his division in the first World Cup in Moscow last December.