ABAP assures POC pugs will deliver in SEAG

MANILA, Philippines - The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) will head to the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore in June with the same mindset –  to win the gold.

Ricky Vargas, the ABAP president, said the association is not veering away from that objective despite its decision fielding two of its top fighters in a separate tournament.

The ABAP is under fire from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for allowing Mark Anthony Barriga and Charly Suarez to vie in the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) tournament instead of the SEA Games.

Barriga, 21, and Suarez, 26, are former gold medalists in the SEA Games. In the last Asian Games, they won the bronze and silver medals, respectively.

The POC said allowing the two boxers to skip the SEA Games is like denying the country of two sure medals.

But the ABAP president is not looking at it the same way as the POC, saying the association is ready to field boxers also capable of winning.

Since the APB is also offering slots to the 2016 Rio Olympics, the ABAP leadership thought of giving Barriga and Suarez the chance to seek the bigger opportunity.

At the same time, it gives the other boxers the chance to shine in the SEA Games.

“The APB is good for ABAP and Philippine boxing. Rest assured that we will not do anything that is detrimental to our national sports program,” said Vargas in a text message.

“It is in line with our long-term goal to get more of our boxers to qualify for the 2016 Olympics to increase our chances for a medal without sacrificing our short-term goals,” he added.

The APB is professional in nature where bouts are for six rounds. In the championship round, bouts go for eight rounds.

The event will feature 80 top amateurs from around the world. It runs on a year-long calendar with each boxer being guaranteed cash purses for each fight.

Patrick Gregorio, the ABAP secretary-general, said Filipino boxers will all eye the gold in Singapore.

“That’s for sure,” he said.

Jose Romasanta, the POC vice president, said ABAP should have informed them of the decision way ahead and not when the two boxers have already signed five-year contracts with the APB.

The SEA Games management committee headed by chef-de-mission Julian Camacho is already in the process of accrediting the Filipino athletes to the Games set June 5 to 16.

It came as a surprise to them that Barriga and Suarez will not be available for the SEA Games when they have strong chances at the gold medal.

In the 2013 SEA Games, Barriga led the Philippine haul of three golds, four silvers and three bronzes. In 2011, Suarez was one of four gold medalists.

Romasanta is worried that because of the yearlong APB calendar, Barriga and Suarez may end up skipping international events other than the SEA Games.

“We have no reason to question the decision of such a gentleman like Ricky Vargas. All we need are the answers to our questions,” said the POC official.

Vargas had an official statement e-mailed to the media yesterday afternoon.

“In any case, we are not overly concerned about the possibility of Barriga and Suarez not being in the SEA Games. We have full confidence in our other boxers. We believe in the skill, ability and determination of those who will step up to the plate. We take full responsibility for our choices for the Singapore SEAG,” Vargas said.

Romasanta wants a clarification regarding the contracts signed by Barriga and Suarez, who as priority athletes receive monthly allowances of P40,000 from the government.