Filipino pugs undergo US training for Asiad

MANILA, Philippines - A pair of training stints in the United States await the Philippine men’s and women’s boxing teams as part of their preparations for the coming Asian Games.

The Nationals, who had just won the overall championship in the recent Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) International Boxing Cup, on an 8-gold, 5-silver, 6 bronze medals harvest, are scheduled to fly to San Francisco in California where they are scheduled to train at the University of San Francisco under its Filipino coach Angelo Merino.

Members of the men’s team, headed by MVP Cup gold medalist Charly Suarez, will also serve sparring partners of Filipino-American hopefuls who will be trying out for the RP team, according to Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson.

A week after that, the Nationals, this time with the women’s team in tow, will proceed to Los Angeles, where they will resume their build-up program, first at the Eddie Heredia Gym where boxing legend Oscar dela Hoya trained as an amateur, then at the Wild Card Gym owned by Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach.         

“The program is running smoothly,” Picson said during the SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura in reference to the “Road to the Asian Games” program being underrtaken by ABAP under the leadership of its chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas.

”At ito’y hindi lamang para makarating tayo sa Asian Games but pati sa London Olympics in 2012.” A tough tournament each still awaits the men’s and women’s squads following their U.S. training.

“Our men’s team wilsl proceed to Finland for the Tammer Cup, a very prestigious competition where whe have been taking part in the past several years,’ Picson said. “The women’s team, on the other hand will go to Barbados for the World Women’s Championshsip. Both are parts of the program for the Asiad.”

“Maraming Fil-Ams ang gustong pumasok sa national pool and it’s a good idea if we can hold tryouts while our boxers are training there para continuous pa rin yung recruitment program natin,” Picson said by way of explaining the tryouts to be conducted inb the Bay Area.

Cinch to go to the U.S. are featherw43ight Suarez, lightweight Joegin Ladon and welterweight Delfin Boholst, all MVP Cup gold medaslaists. Two or three other boxers might join the three.

Flyweight Annie Albania, the country’s brightest hope for a gold medal in the Asiad, and either pinweight Josie Gabuco or light-flyweight Kate Aparri might make it to the U.S. training.     

Making the 45-kilogram to 48-kilogram as one division under the Olympic event was trhe reason given by national women’s coach Roel Velasco why only one between Gabuco and Aparri can make it.

“Pinag-isa na kasi yung pinweight at ligh-fly kaya mamimili na lang tayo kung sino sa kanilang dalawa ang mapapadala,’ Velasco, who was with Picson during the forum, reasoned out.

Bantamweight Annaliza Cruz, who is suffering from a shoulder injury, and featherweight Nelia Petecio are the other Filipina MVP Cup gold medalists in what turned out a perfect five-for-five whowing ot the RP disstaff side in the competition.

The Philippines, according to Picson, fielded in 19 fighters sin the MVP Cup held at the Philippine Internatiuonal convention Center and all brought home a medal each.