Olympic boxers, coaches receive rewards from MVPSF after Tokyo success
FILE – The Philippine boxing team with their medals in Tokyo. Photo from Nesthy Petecio’s Twitter
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ Olympic boxers and their coaches officially received the P18.5 million that the MVP Sports Foundation promised to them following their stellar run in the Tokyo Games.
Silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam each received P5 million while bronze medal winner Eumir Marcial got P2 million.
Irish Magno got her share of P500,000 while a total of P6 million were given to the coaches of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap).
MVPSF chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, MVPSF president Alfredo S. Panlilio, MVPSF trustee and Abap president Ricky Vargas, Abap secretary-general Ed Picson, and MVPSF executive director Jude Turcuato attended the ceremonies at Meralco Lighthouse Restaurant.
“Going back to that 12-year journey, the one thing that stood out is the fact that MVPSF, and PLDT and Smart before that, were with us when support was most needed. When we were struggling to give our boxers international exposure, proper training, equipment, and the financial incentives to keep body and soul together,” said Picson.
“The journey is far from over. Abap commits to persevere and continue to be an inspiration and a source of pride to our countrymen.”
Petecio, who also won an amateur world title in 2019, thanked the MVPSF for its support of the national boxers.
“These past few days, we have thanked a lot of people, but we have a different kind of gratitude for MVPSF,” said Petecio in Filipino. “Since the start of our journey with ABAP, you’ve never left us. The times we lost, cried, when no one gave us any interest, MVPSF was there supporting us 100 percent so that we can achieve our dreams not just for ourselves but for our families and the country.”
Panlilio added that the foundation will continue to support Abap.
“We really believe that one of the key principles for MVPSF is grassroots development, and I know you all came from there so we will commit even more. We want to find the next Eumir, the next Irish, the next Carlo, the next Nesthy,” said Panlilio.
Pangilinan said the MVPSF will also invest in the technical aspects of the sport with the group looking to look into the scientific studies to better help the national boxing program.
“We have to prepare you for your next boxing events: SEA Games, Asian Games and Paris (2024 Olympics),” said Pangilinan. “Ricky said that we have to put science in your boxing so you are better prepared for the next boxing events. Not just shoes and apparel, but better scientific preparation for your next boxing events. That is our promise to you.”
“We already knew we had good material to work with… but we also knew it was important to embrace Sports Science. So Ed and I got together and set out to hire sports scientists. We hired a Strength and Conditioning coach in our very first year and in the following year engaged a sports psychologist, nutritionist, and a performance analyst. They played a big part in our boxers’ successes,” said Vargas.
