Abnett credits team for surge

TOKYO – Don Abnett wouldn’t take any credit for the Philippine boxing team’s three-medal finish at the Olympics here and instead, applauded the efforts of the entire delegation in delivering a performance of the ages. In Olympic history, boxing has accounted for eight of the country’s 14 medals but never had the sport brought in multiple medals until this year.

Abnett, 60, headed a five-man coaching staff that listed men’s assistant Ronald Chavez, men’s trainer Elmer Pamisa, women’s trainer Boy Velasco and women’s trainer Reynaldo Galido. The boxing contingent was led by sports psychologist Marcus Manalo. ABAP qualified four boxers – men’s flyweight Carlo Paalam, men’s middleweight Eumir Marcial, women’s flyweight Irish Magno and women’s featherweight Nesthy Petecio. Paalam and Petecio claimed silvers while Marcial took bronze. The 75 percent batting average is a result of the hard work that the team put out to prepare for the Olympics.

“We’ve had success at the SEA Games, Asian Games, World Championships but our goal has always been to medal in the Olympics,” said ABAP president Ricky Vargas. “Our preparation started 10 years ago with our program in both the grassroots and elite levels. This year, we had no luck of the draw, we faced the best of the best. Olympic boxing is different from other sports. It’s one loss, you’re out. In Olympic basketball, the US lost to France in the preliminaries but still won gold. Carlo exceeded our expectations. We’re proud of all our boxers.”

ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson said Abnett, an Australian, has changed the character of the team since he joined the squad in 2019. “Don’s analytical, studious, assiduous and he works like hell,” said Picson. “He’s forever taking down notes, watching videos, always on his computer to make sure our boxers are on top of their game. When our British coach Kevin Smith left, he recommended Don to take his place.”

Abnett was Australia’s coach in two Olympics and a protégé was Jeff Horn who later became the WBO welterweight champion. He’s been involved in boxing for 38 years. Abnett was once the Papua New Guinea boxing coach and used to accompany the Australian team for training camps in Manila since 2009. Abnett hasn’t been home to visit his son Matthew and daughters Toni and Trindall in Australia for two years.

“Filipino boxers deserve recognition,” said Abnett. “It’s an honor to work with the team and I love the Philippines, the Filipino people. Two years ago, I predicted we would qualify four boxers to the Olympics. They took out the lightflyweight division in men’s boxing and that’s where we were able to get three medals in the past. But it gave Carlo a chance to move up to flyweight. Adding the featherweight division in women’s boxing was a blessing for Nesthy. In 2024, there’s talk that they’ll do seven men and seven women divisions in boxing.”

Abnett said the three-month training camp in Thailand was a huge boost in getting the fighters ready for the Olympics. ABAP brought three qualifiers, seven sparmates and five coaches to the Thai camp. Rio Olympian Rogen Ladon was in the camp as a sparmate and played a key role in sharing his experience with the fighters. Marcial was the only qualifier who missed the Thai camp as he trained in Los Angeles and Colorado Springs.