INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Branding the whole incident as a case of “misunderstanding,” the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (Abat) on Saturday declared it will accommodate the Philippines in the Asian Olympic qualifying event, a day after the international boxing federation told them to do so.

In an Internet report, Abat president Gen. Taweep Jantaroj even blamed the Thai press after its newspapers The Nation and the Bangkok Post said early in the week the Philippines failed to meet the deadline for entries and is thus disqualified from the event.

“I can accept the Philippine team; it’s no problem,” Jantaroj was quoted as saying. “The Thai press misunderstood this case. They said I stopped the Philippine team from competing. That is not true.”

However, Jantaroj said he will check if they rooms left to accommodate the RP team, one of the brightest hopes for a first-ever Philippine Olympic gold medal, in the Jan. 25 to Feb. 2 event that dangles slots in the Beijing Games in August.

“I said okay I will accept the Philippine team but I will check the rooms for the team because there are too many people coming,” he said.

The country is sending six boxers in Thailand, hoping to increase the number of Olympian boxers after only Harry Tañamor made it in the World qualifying.

The feisty general was also quoted as saying that Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) president Manny Lopez “misunderstood” the situation.

“Manny Lopez you come to Thailand, no problem,” said the Thai. “This is good for every country not only the Philippines but for our friendly country also.”