MVPSF rewards boxers, coaches

MANILA, Philippines — The MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) has held a ceremony to formally hand over a total of P18.5 million cash incentives to Olympic boxers and coaches of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.

The amount included P5 million each to Tokyo Olympic silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, P2 million to bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, P500,000 to Olympian Irish Magno through the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and P6 million to the ABAP coaches.

At the ceremony at the Meralco Lighthouse Restaurant were MVPSF chairman Manny Pangilinan, POC president Abraham Tolentino, MVPSF president Al Panlilio, MVPSF trustee and ABAP president Ricky Vargas, ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson, and MVPSF executive director Jude Turcuato.

Picson, who has been with the ABAP since 2009, expressed his gratefulness to the MVP Group for its support to Philippine boxing from the early years.

“Going back to that 12-year journey, the one thing that stood out is the fact that MVPSF, and PLDT and Smart before that, were with us when support was most needed — when we were struggling to give our boxers international exposure, proper training, equipment, and the financial incentives to keep body and soul together,” Picson said.

The ABAP sec-gen assured the federation will not rest on its laurels.

“The journey is far from over. ABAP commits to persevere and continue to be an inspiration and a source of pride to our countrymen,” he said.

Panlilio emphasized they will continue to support ABAP, especially its grassroots program in order to find the next great boxing talents.

“We really believe that one of the key principles for MVPSF is grassroots development, and I know you all came from there so we will commit even more. We want to find the next Eumir, the next Irish, the next Carlo, the next Nesthy,” said Panlilio.