AMONG the 13 Filipino athletes competing in the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics which unfolds tomorrow, Aug. 5, the country’s boxers have the best shot at winning medals.
The boxers are lightflyweight Rogen Ladon, 22 years old, and 2012 Olympic veteran Charly Suarez, who will campaign in the lightweight division.
According to Abap executive director Ed Picson the two boxers are highly motivated not only by the P10-M incentive but also by the chance to give the country its first gold in the Olympics.
Picson told the Inquirer that Ladon and Suarez deserve to represent the country in the quadrennial sports spectacle because they went through a rigorous winnowing process before making it to the Rio Games.
Before this, Ladon was completely unheard of until he defeated 2012 Olympic veteran Mark Anthony Barriga in China.
Last October, Ladon almost nailed an Olympic ticket in the Aiba World Championships in Doha, Qatar, and he was regarded the best boxer in the Southeast Asian Games last year.
About the 27 years old Suarez, Picson gives weight to his vast experience in the Aiba World Boxing, the World Series of Boxing and the Olympics.
Ladon and Suarez are expected to plunge into action in Rio since the draw in boxing will be held on the day of the opening of the games.
On Aug. 6, the first two boxing events to be contested are the lightflyweight and lightweight divisions, where Suarez and Ladon are campaigning.
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By the way, after seeing action briefly in the last Mahindra game against Alaska, Sen. Manny Pacquiao will play again in the PBA All-Star blitz event this Friday.
Pacquiao will play alongside PBA Legends Alvin Patrimonio and Ronnie Magsanoc.
With top point guard LA Revilla out of commission due to a broken nose, the 8-division world boxing champion is expected to see more action in the PBA third conference.
True to his world, Pacquiao has been religiously attending senate sessions since the opening last July 25.
So far he has already filed 10 bills, a big contrast to his performance when he was Sarangani congressman.