Marcial throws more jabs at PSC, ABAP
WITHOUT actually mentioning the agency’s name, Tokyo Olympicsbound boxer Eumir Felix Marcial seemed to throw another jab at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).
After the government-run PSC and Philippine boxing’s governing body ABAP did some ‘counter punches’ to Marcial’s initial claim he has not been getting support for his Tokyo Olympics preparations and training in the United States last year, Marcial explained why he brought out his grievances in public.
The 25-year-old Marcial, however, acknowledged he is still receiving his monthly allowance from the PSC, but said it wasn’t enough to cover his training in the US where he also made his first professional boxing fight last December.
ABAP has set training camp for the Philippine national boxing team in Thailand but allowed Marcial to train in Los Angeles, California last year because he has a scheduled pro debut in December. After winning his first professional bout, Marcial did not join the camp in Thailand, but instead went to Zamboanga City to resume his training.
“To the people who know nothing about sports, you better shut up! You don’t know the truth,” wrote Marcial in Filipino in a Facebook post Wednesday night.
“Since last year when I was in the United States until now in Zamboanga City, do you think my 43,000 pesos monthly allowance is enough for my preparation for the Olympics?”
“Do you think I can rely on 43,000 pesos for my plane tickets, accommodation, food, coaching staff, supplements, masseur, etc. All the things mentioned were provided by private sponsors and of course, my own money,” added Marcial, who fights professionally under Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.
From mere jabs, Marcial went on to throw a haymaker at the PSC and ABAP.
“If that’s how you support (national athletes) and that’s your mentality, you better not hope for a gold in the Olympics! Now, my question for myself and for you guys, are we, Filipino athletes, weak that up to now no one has ever won a gold in the Olympics or it’s just there’s a problem when it comes to your support?” he said.
Marcial, a three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, ended his statement by saying, “May the word unity reside in all of us. Thank you to all the people who help and support me.”
At the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum last Tuesday, PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez and ABAP secretary general Ed Picson said their respective agencies weren’t remiss when it came to their duty of supporting Marcial’s Olympic bid.
“As far as PSC is concerned, the support is continuous for Marcial, especially on his allowance. Even when he decided to turn pro, we kept sending him his allowance because he is going to play for the country in the Olympics,” said Fernandez, denying Marcial’s claim he has not received support from the PSC.
Picson, meanwhile, recalled instances when ABAP tried its best to support Marcial despite the strict restrictions at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. ABAP even granted Marcial’s request to have a coach in Gerson Nietes for his training in Zamboanga City.
“Marcial may be hearing too many voices around him,” said Picson.
“By and large, we’ve been helping them [national boxers] on top of the personal support we’ve been giving them. We’re giving him [Marcial] something. The problem is, he is confused when it comes to his role as a professional and as a national athlete. We’ve been giving him advice but I feel there’s too many people giving him as well.”
Aside from the Tokyo Games that will start on July 23, Marcial is also set to compete at the Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Dubai slated from May 21 to June 1.
Based on Republic Act 10699, the Olympic gold medal winner stands to receive a P10 million incentive from the PSC. P5 million shall be awarded to the silver medalist and P2 million for the bronze medalist.
This is on top of the incentives private corporations, local government units and other politicians customarily offer to Filipino Olympic Games medal winners.