ALMATY, Kazakhstan – Ikinadismaya ng PLDT-ABAP Team ang nangyaring pagkatalo nina national boxers Rey Saludar at Charly Suarez sa kanilang championship bouts sa President’s Cup.
Sa kabila ng pagpapabagsak ni Suarez kay Asian lightweight champion Berik Abdrahmanov ng Kazakhs-tan sa third round mula sa isang right hook ay natalo pa rin ang Pinoy boxer via unanimous decision. Pinilit ng Kazakhs fighter na makipagsabayan bago nalampasan ang rapido ni Suarez sa biglaang pagtunog ng bell.
“That bell rang suspiciously early,” sabi ni coach Elmer Pamisa. “We never even heard the 10-second clapper to signify that the round was about to end.”
Pumabor kay Abdrahmanov ang mga judges ng Kazakhstan, Russia at Ukraine. Tila tinalo din ni Saludar sa suntukan si Uzbek opponent Zoirov ngunit natalo sa, 30-26, 30-27 at 30-27.
“We came here to gauge our strengths and weaknesses and to aid us in our decision on our final lineup for the Asian Games. Saludar and Sua-rez both had four tough fights in six days. I think we achieved our objectives,” sabi ni ABAP exe-cutive director Ed Picson.
Samantala, dumating na ang isa pang grupo ng mga Asiad aspirants sa Guiyang, China para kumampanya sa China Open.