Vargas: minimum 2 golds

OSAKA – PBA chairman Ricky Vargas is here to preside in the league’s annual planning meeting but during a break, wore a different hat yesterday when as ABAP chairman, he spoke about his expectations of the five-strong Philippine boxing team in the Paris Olympics.

“Minimum two golds,” said Vargas. “Podium finishes for all five are very possible. They’re prepared, they’re ready. They went through a lot to get to where they are, to represent the country in the Olympics.” The fighting five are lightheavyweight (80kg) Eumir Marcial, featherweight (57kg) Carlo Paalam, lightflyweight (50kg) Aira Villegas, featherweight (57kg) Nesthy Petecio and middleweight (75kg) Hergie Bacyadan.

Marcial, 28, earned his ticket by making it to the final of the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year while Villegas, 28, and Petecio, 32, got their passes at the first World Qualifying Tournament in Italy last March. Paalam, 25 and Bacyadan, 29 booked their slots at the second World Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok last June.

Australian coach Don Abnett is the team’s chief strategist and scout. Filipino coaches Ronald Chavez and Gerson Nietes will focus on Marcial and Bacyadan while Reynaldo Galido and Mitchel Martinez will take care of Villegas and Petecio. Elmer Pamisa is in charge of his long-time protégé Paalam. Vargas said coordination with Abnett is essential to make sure instructions are communicated clearly particularly during round intervals.

“In Bangkok, Carlo beat five fighters in seven days, each one a do-or-die,” said Vargas. “I recall he fought twice within 12 hours. He got a silver in the Tokyo Olympics. Now, he’s going for gold. Nesthy is 32 and probably fighting in her last Olympics. Like Carlo, she won a silver in Tokyo and I think it’s her time to get the gold. Hergie was amazing in Bangkok, winning three in a row. She beat some of the world’s best, including Hungary’s world youth U19 champion Veronika Nakota, originally from Ukraine. Hergie’s power is incredible. She goes straight in, she’s not too skillful but her power is overwhelming. Eumir took a bronze in Tokyo and he’s up for the gold. Aira is the least known of the five but don’t count her out.”

Boxing in the Paris Olympics begins July 27 and ends Aug. 11 when Paalam and Petecio go for gold if they make it all the way to the final.