A big step to PH Olympic dream
HIS MISSION in the United States must have been very important otherwise Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) president Ricky Vargas would have been in Singapore to personally witness the performance of his boxers and their eventual triumph.
Abap secretary general Pato Gregorio reported that the Philippines sent 10 boxers to the 28th SEA Games “and all of them delivered—five golds, three silvers and two bronzes.”
“The Philippines finally dethroned perennial overall boxing champ Thailand. Abap chair Manny V. Pangilinan, who is also in the US with Ricky for business meetings, is very happy with the golden feat. The two were so elated when they were apprised of the good news,” Gregorio said.
The gold medalists are Josie Gabuco, Ian Clark Bautista, Mario Fernandez, Junel Cantancio, and Eumir Marcial.
Yes, Vargas wished he was in Singapore to support the PH boxers, “but I probably would have stayed outside the gym during the fights waiting for the result. Watching the fights as they happen is too stressful for me.”
“What I missed was personally shaking the hands of each member of Team Abap. Will do that when I return.”
The Abap head said they will take it step by step toward the achievement of their goal.
“Winning five golds in the SEA Games is one big step toward our Olympic dream. Remember, we still have Olympians Barriga and Suarez fighting and training overseas.”
I still recall the heartbreak of the boxing delegation in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games when Charly Suarez, Team Abap’s last hope for a gold medal, finished with only a silver. Despite the huge incentives dangled to the boxers, we were good only for one silver and three bronze medals, compliments of Fernandez, Lopez and Barriga i the last Asian Games. In 2011, the start of Vargas’ tenure as Abap president, Team PH won four golds in the SEA Games held in Indonesia. In the 2013 Burma (Myanmar) meet, we won three.
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Kobe Paras attributes his back-to-back success in the 2015 Fiba World Under-18 3×3 slamdunk competition to team effort.
“My teammates, as well as my coach, all helped to make me win. I couldn’t have done it all by myself. We would talk about how I would execute my moves, especially the one that involves them and they would help me practice. I have them to thank for my victory,” said Paras, who was only 15 when he won his first slamdunk title in Jakarta in 2013.
