Filipino pugs plunge back into training for 2nd Olympic qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines – There's no rest for the weary as the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) already laid out plans for its coming campaign in the 2nd World Qualification Tournament set in Bangkok, Thailand from May 23 to June 3.

ABAP secretary general Marcus Jarwin Manalo said after a brief break, members of the national team resume their training on Wednesday as they begin preparations for the final qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Part of the agenda is holding a camp at the US Olympic Training Center in Denver, Colorado starting April 9, and later on joining a week-long tournament to be held in the same American state from April 14-21.

The boxers will return to the country afterwards, and then proceed to Bangkok on May 9 for another two weeks of training camp before finally seeing action in the Olympic qualifier.

But Manalo announced in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex about sending a meaner delegation in Thailand compared to the team which competed in the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy last week where Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas secured berths to the Paris Games.

“To be honest merong mga under evaluation pa kasi hindi naman lahat kailangang ipadala sa Thailand dahil we want our coaches to focus on the boxers who have good chance of qualifying,” said Manalo during the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, PLDT/Smart, MILO, and the 24/7 sports app in the country, ArenaPlus.

“We don’t have a final lineup yet. But we’ll definitely be more quality than quantity going to the qualifiers.”

Expected to help in the evaluation process are coaches Reynaldo Galido, and Mitchell Martinez, along with ABAP treasurer Karina Picson, who is also an international boxing technical delegate, all of whom joined Manalo in the weekly public sports program.

So far already assured of slots in Bangkok are Hergie Bacyadan, described by Galido as having natural punching power, and Olympians Rogen Ladon and Carlo Paalam, who came just two wins short of qualifying.

Paalam, silver medal winner in the Tokyo Olympics, hurt his shoulder after being slammed to the canvas by Mexican Andrey Bonilla in a match the Filipino won by split decision.

Unfortunately, the injury kept him from fighting on and led him to concede his next bout against Shukur Ovezov of Turkmenistan.

Picson disclosed the deputy who supervised the fight between Paalam and Bonilla, and the official was asked to write a report directed to the Mexico boxing federation about sanctioning their boxer following his takedown against Paalam.

Good thing, the Filipino Olympian just suffered an AC joint injury when he was checked up upon arrival from Italy.

“Kumbaga sa paa, natapilok lang. So it’s just like a sprain, namaga lang. Wala namang tear, wala namang fracture, so he’s good to go to the next qualifier,” added Manalo.

ABAP said Petecio, Villegas, and early Paris Olympic qualifier Eumir Marcial will join the national team in its training camps in both Denver, Colorado, and Bangkok, Thailand, as part of their training for the Olympiad.