Pangilinan, Vargas keep boxing association posts

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines’ (Abap) grassroots programs and search for the first Olympic gold medal will continue under sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas.

Pangilinan and Vargas were re-elected Abap chair and president, respectively, for the third straight term during elections held at Microtel by Wyndham-MOA in Pasay over the weekend

Pangilinan, also chair of telecommunications giant PLDT, and Vargas are two of the highest executives of the MVP group, which has been boxing’s private sector benefactor for the past eight years.
“I am honored and humbled by the continued support,” said Vargas. “While we were disappointed at our failure to win medals in the Olympics, we offer no excuses. Rather, we pledge to move forward and ramp up our efforts to energize the national boxers into a more potent force in the international arena.”

Also elected were Rep. Raul Daza, vice chair; John Patrick Gregorio, vice president; lawyer Oscar P. Moreno, Jr., treasurer and secretary general Ed Picson. —CEDELF P. TUPAS