Great Britain’s Joseph Cordina (R) fights Philippines’ Charly Coronel Suarez during the Men’s Light (60kg) match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Riocentro – Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Yuri CORTEZ
Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines is not guaranteeing anything when it comes to the Philippines’ bid in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur next month, but it’s not tempering expectations either.
Abap executive director Ed Picson on Tuesday said ABAP is aiming to sweep all six gold medals at stake in boxing tournament of the biennial meet.
Charly Suarez (light welterweight), Eumir Felix Marcial (middleweight), Carlo Paalam (light flyweight), Ian Bautista (flyweight) and John Martin (light heavyweight) are carrying the country’s fight in the sport.
“At the risk of sounding immodest, six,” Picson told reporters during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum when asked about ABAP’s end goal in the SEA Games. “I think we have a pretty solid team in the SEA Games.”
Picson is convinced the boxers have what it takes to deliver.
“We’re not going to send a boxer that has no chance of winning. I believe that all our boxers are capable,” Picson said.
“I’m not guaranteeing that [we’re going to get all the gold medals] but I can tell you that they are very determined to get the gold medal.
The boxers are currently training in Guangzhou, China. The team returns on July 22 and will leave for Malaysia on Aug. 17 three days before the competition unfolds.
“We hope the exposure the boxers are getting are enough. There’s no excuse for failure because they’ve been given exposure and equipment,” said Picson.