ABAP masaya na sa naging performance ng mga boksingero

Sa kabila ng nag-iisang silver na produksiyon ng Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines sa Busan Asian Games, higit nila itong ikinasisiya sa buong taon dahil sa pagbibigay karangalan sa bansa dahil nakakuha sila ng karanasan.

"The year going to end has been good to our boxers, coaches and association officials. The ABAP reached new heights this year and despite some failures, we were able to rebound and proceed with our program," pahayag ni ABAP president Manny T. Lopez na kamakailan ay nahalal na secretary general ng powerful Federation of Asian Amateur Boxing (FAAB).

"Aside from the Asian Games silver medal of Harry Tanamor, our boxers and coaches were able to garner six golds, eight silvers and six bronzes from seven international tournaments they participated in. And we are looking forward to attaining more this coming year."

Idinagdag pa ni Lopez na hindi lang ang pagbibigay sa bansa ng karangalan ang nakuha ng kanyang mga boxers at coaching staff kundi mainit rin ang naging pagtanggap sa kanila ng iba pang international boxing associations. Napalawig rin ang diplomatic relations at goodwill sa iba pang bansa bunga ng paglahok ng mga boksingero sa iba’t ibang tournaments at ang pag-entra ni Lopez sa FAAB.

"It is a known fact that our boxers and coaches gained fame in those tournaments where they strutted their talents and knowledge of the sport. A delation also made history by becoming the first-Filipino team to participate in a North Korean tournament and winning a gold, silver and five bronze medals," ani pa ni Lopez.

Nagpamalas ng lakas sa North Korean tourney si Maraon Goles na nanalo ng gold sa middleweight division, si Tanamor (silver) sa light flyweight at flyweight Violito Payla, bantamweight Ferdie Gamo, featherweight Roel Laguna, lightweight Anthony Igusquiza at light middleweight Christopher Camat na nagdala ng bronze medals sa bansa.

Nagwagi rin sina Payla at Tanamor ng gold medalya sa Acropolis Cup sa Greece at Dr. A. Chowdry Cup sa Azerbaijan at silver medals sa Lithuania, habang inuwi naman ni Payla ang nag-iisang gold sa Gee Bee tournament sa Finland kung saan nakuntento lamang si Tanamor sa silver.

Nakipagbasagan naman ng mukha sa Lithuania tournament sa Finland sina light welterweight Romeo Brin at Igus-quiza na nanalo ng silvers. Ang iba pang medal winners ay sina Lhyven Salazar (Asian Boxing Championships silver sa Malaysia), Gamo (ABC bronze) at Arlan Lerio (Acropolis Cup silver).