PLDT-ABAP national boxing tiff under way

CARMEN, Bohol, Philippines – The PLDT-ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championships got under way here yesterday with around 140 boxers from 25 teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao out to show their wares as they slug it out for top honors and spots in the national pool.

Representing Luzon are Team Buddy Andrada, Mandaluyong, Tayabas and Puerto Princesa; Visayas has Mandaue, Cebu City, Negros Occidental, Bago City, Dumaguete, Northern Samar, Leyte, Maasin, and Tagbilaran; and Mindanao has Davao del Norte, Zamboanga, GenSan, Camiguin, Manolo Fortich, Misamis Oriental, Sarangani, Cabadbaran, Gingoog, Adlayan, Datu Puti and Asuncion.

Carmen Mayor Conchita Torribio delos Reyes, granddaughter of 1932 Olympics bronze medalist Simeon Torribio, and Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Neri Lim welcomed the participants as well as Phl boxing officials led by ABAP president Ricky Vargas, secretary-general Patrick Gregorio and executive director Ed Picson, PLDT AVP Dodie Lucas, and Smart Sports’ Epok Quimpo.

“This is what grassroots development is all about. ABAP makes sure we go to the countryside to be able to flush out raw talent that would have otherwise been left unnoticed,” said Vargas, the Philippine Sportswriters Association 2011 Executive of the Year.

“It’s easier for us to go to them than for them to come to us. And we’re are heartened to see so many who have come out to show their wares. I’m confident we will see a lot of potential here.”

Two AIBA officials graced the opening ceremony and later held a seminar and conducted a licensing examination for 15 national referees seeking to earn international status as ring officials, including a female referee from Mongolia.

The Phl women’s team likewise held exhibition four-rounders with counterparts from Sri Lanka.

Day Two of the competition Monday will be held in Maribojoc, Bohol.