ABAP defies POC, PSC

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) yesterday said it will push through with its US training camp for more than a dozen Filipino boxers seeking Olympic berths even after the country’s top officials advised the association to scuttle the trip saying that it will not do the boxers any good.

The decision to proceed with the trip in defiance of the advisory from the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission is expected to exacerbate the already tenuous relationship between the ABAP executives and the country’s top officials who have been at odds over the failure of the ABAP to produce Olympic qualifiers despite its huge budget and several foreign competitions.

Perhaps saying it does not need to be told what to do with its training program, the ABAP, whose chief patron is businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, declared that the association will spend its own money for the US trip which will bring 14 boxers to train in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas beginning Feb. 23.

“The coaches know what they’re doing,” said ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson yesterday in dismissing the advisory from the POC and the PSC.

The other day, PSC Chairman Ricardo Garcia, echoing the advice from POC President Jose Cojuangco Jr., said the ABAP’s plan to go to the US will do more harm than good owing to the lengthy travel, jet lag and bruising work the boxers will endure as they get ready for the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifying from March 23 to April 3 in Qian’an, China.

Until now, the ABAP has yet to get appointments for US visa interviews although Sports Commissioner Jolly Gomez is using his connections with US Embassy officials to expedite the schedule.

Picson said it would be ideal for the delegation to leave by Feb. 23 or 24 so they can all make the most out of the exposure.