PLDT gives champion PH boxers hefty perks

NAYPYITAW—A hefty incentive awaits the three boxing gold medalists in the 27th Southeast Asian Games here.

Women’s light flyweight champion Josie Gabuco, light fly Mark Anthony Barriga and bantamweight Mario Fernandez are expected to receive an additional P300,000 from corporate backer PLDT for ruling their respective events Saturday night at Wunna Theikdi Stadium’s boxing arena.

The bonus is separate from the P100,000 each will receive from the Philippine Sports Commission as mandated by the Athletes Incentives Act, also known as Republic Act 9064, which also rewards P50,000 to the silver medalists and P25,000 to bronze winners.

All 10 Filipino boxers sent here captured medals as the country finished with a 3-gold, 4-silver, 3-bronze haul in the competition marred by outrageous judging in favor of Burma (Myanmar) pugs in a couple of final bouts.

The PH gold medal harvest was one short of the haul in the last SEA Games in Palembang.

Boxing executive director Ed Picson said silver medalists Dennis Galvan, Wilfredo Lopez, Junel Cantancio and Nesthy Petecio also stand to receive P200,000 from PLDT, while bronze medalists Maricris Igam, Irish Magno and Rey Saludar will pocket an additional P100,000.

While he felt Petecio and Lopez were robbed of gold medals, Picson said he is no longer keen on pursuing a protest.

“You cannot protest these decisions,” he said. “We will abide but it doesn’t mean that we agree.“

Petecio could only shake her head in disbelief after losing to Burma’s Nwe Ni Oo, while Lopez, who sustained a cut above his right eye due to a headbutt, was declared loser to Wailin Aung via technical knockout-injury after Taiwanese ring doctor Jerry Yu decided it was no longer safe for the Filipino to continue.

“It was a scratch,” Picson said in describing Lopez’s cut.

Under the new rule, the judges’ scorecards will be used in deciding the winner if a fight is stopped due to injury only in the first round.

“We’re not happy,” Picson said. “We deserved at least five or maybe six (golds). We also felt we lost a won fight in the semifinals that of Rey Saludar and Iris Magno.”