Pinoy pugs brace for 3 major tiffs

MANILA, Philippines - Three major international boxing tournaments are lined up for the PLDT-ABAP national team this month as the Filipino fighters prime up for the AIBA World Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan in October.

Four young recruits – Jason Daming (46kgs), Hipolito Banal Jr. (48kgs), Paul Gilbert Galagnao (52kgs) and Mike Angelo Plania (54kgs) – flew to Kiev, Ukraine yesterday for the Sept. 5-16 AIBA 15-16 World Junior Championships where Eumir Felix Marcial won the gold in the light bantamweight class two years ago in Astana, Kazakhstan .

They were accompanied by ABAP executive director Ed Picson and coaches Ronald Chavez and Romeo Brin.

Next up is the Sydney Jackson Memorial Boxing Tournament set Sept. 11-17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan with Rogen Ladon (49kgs), Ian Clark Bautista (52kgs), Jonas Bacho (56kgs), James Palicte (60kgs), and reserves Roldan Bongcales Jr. (52kgs) and Junel Cantancio (60kgs). Joining them are coaches Elmer Pamisa and Pat Gaspi.

Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga captured gold medals here in the light flyweight division in 2011 and 2012.

Wrapping up this month’s events is the AIBA Women’s Youth and Junior Championships from Sept. 20-29 in Albena, Bulgaria. Lined up are Jenie Mirana (44-46kgs) and Aira Villegas (44-48kgs). With them are coaches Roel Velasco and Mitchel Martinez and team manager Karina Picson.

“We’re very excited about our young discoveries since we embarked on an extensive grassroots development program,” said ABAP president Ricky Vargas. “To date, we have qualified an Olympian and produced four Asian Games champions. The future looks bright for Philippine amateur boxing.”