Bago hosts PLDT-Abap Visayas meet

ABOUT 80 boxers from fight clubs and teams all over the region are expected to slug it out when the PLDT-Abap Visayas Area Tournament fires off Oct. 21-26 in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

As early as yesterday, five teams have already arrived, with the main bulk descending on the Bago City Coliseum for the start of the tournament proper tomorrow.

The amateur slugfest, part of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines’ (Abap) comprehensive grassroots development and talent search program, aims to identify participants for the National Championships to be held in Maasin City, Southern Leyte, early next year.

Gracing the championships are Abap president Ricky Vargas, Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno, Abap vice president Manny Lopez and Abap secretary general Patrick Gregorio.

“The Abap grassroots development program took off with five gold medal wins in Taipei last month by young discoveries from our regional tournaments,” said Vargas. “The 2012 PLDT-Abap championships in Bago City promises another good haul.”

Serving as highlight of the event is the formalization of agreement between PLDT-Abap and Bago City to build a regional training center that will service boxing hopefuls in the Visayas.

Bago City Mayor Ramon Torres has vowed to pull out all stops to ensure a successful tournament and put Bago back in the boxing map.

The city has produced stellar figures in Philippine boxing like Olympic medalists Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco and elder brother Roel, the Galido and Vicera brothers and Leopoldo Cantancio.