ABAP tests boxers in Bulgaria
Who will make it to the Philippine boxing team at the Cambodia SEA Games in May may be determined by the performance of 10 fighters seeing action in the 74th Strandja International Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, starting today until Feb. 27. ABAP secretarygeneral Marcus Manalo said yesterday most of the boxers will compete in Cambodia even as he’s leaving the door open for five-time SEA Games gold medalist Josie Gabuco, 2019 SEA Games silver medalist Riza Pasuit and 2017 SEA Games gold medalist John Marvin to qualify.
The team vying for honors in Bulgaria is composed of Marvin Tabamo (51kg), Carlo Paalam (54kg), Junmilardo Ogayre (57kg), Paul Bascon (60kg) and James Palicte (63.5kg) for men and Cleo Tesara (48kg), Aira Villegas (50kg), Irish Magno (52kg), Maricel de la Torre (54kg) and Nesthy Petecio (57kg) for women.
Manalo said Tokyo Olympic silver medalists Paalam and Petecio will lead the charge. “We’re waiting for Josie and Riza to come back from military training at the end of the month,” he noted. “John will try out for the men’s 80 kg spot whether Eumir (Marcial) comes back or not. John used to compete at 81kg for us and Eumir at 75kg. But the SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics removed the 75kg division so Eumir will need to go up to 80kg. The next weight below is 71kg. I don’t know if that will be a factor in Eumir’s decision but he’s still a force to reckon with at 80kg, if ever.”
Manalo said Marcial remains in the national training pool. “We haven’t gotten official word from Eumir,” he said. “Since he entered the pros, naghihintay kami sa plano niya whether he will rejoin the national team or not. Obviously, we want him to rejoin us, he is a top talent. But if he has other plans moving forward, it’s perfectly fine with us. He’s brought a lot of honor to the country already.”
Marvin, 30, turned pro last year and has chalked up two wins by a first-round knockout. His mother Teresita Tupas is from Pampanga while father John, Sr. is a retired English professional singer, former cruise director and yacht master. “I had a couple of fights for a different organization in England but now my focus is on the SEA Games,” said Marvin who was the only boxer on the Philippine squad to miss a podium finish at the 2019 SEA Games, losing a split decision to Vietnam’s Dinh Hoang Truong after breaking his right hand and suffering a shock knockdown in the first round. Now, Marvin’s ready to return with a vengeance. Manalo said two-time SEA Games gold medalist and 2016 Olympian Rogen Ladon would’ve joined the team in Bulgaria but pulled out after complaining of pain in his foot.