ABAP to re-evaluate Olympic Qualifying Tournament pool

(L-R) ABAP officials Reynaldo Galido, Marcus Jarwin Manalo, Karina Picson, and Mitchel Martinez. Handout/PSA

MANILA — Three Filipino boxers have qualified so far for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is optimistic that more is yet to come.

Following the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Italy, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas are now headed to Paris later this year, joining Eumir Marcial who clinched a spot in the Olympics following his silver-medal finish at the 19th Asian Games.

READ: 2 Filipina boxers secure Olympic spots

Petecio and Villegas ruled the Italy tilt's women's 57kg and 50kg, respectively, making them stand out among the 10 hopefuls who competed there. 

Aside from them, Claudine Veloso, Riza Pasuit, and Herge Bacyadan also competed in the tourney's women's class, while Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon, Mark Ashley Fajardo, Ronald Chavez Jr., and John Nobel Marvin comprise the men's division.

Paalam was not able to continue due to a shoulder injury, with the Tokyo Olympian opting to exit his Round of 16 57kg bout against Shuku Ovezov, while Ladon endured a 4-1 defeat against Kiaran MacDonald in the 51kg class. 

Fortunately, hope is not lost for them. 

"Sa men's sila Carlo Paalam at si Rogen Ladon [were] two wins away from qualifying. Unfortunately, si Carlo got injured, si Rogen lost by split decision, but merong pang final chance to qualify for Paris Olympics," said ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum in Manila. 

Manolo shared that the Pinoy pugilists will have another chance to earn slots in the Paris Games, and that is through the Bangkok qualifiers in May.

"Sa May 23 to June 3 ang second Olympic Qualifying Tournament sa Bangkok Thailand. Yung mga hindi pa nag qualify, yun yung last chance nila," he said, while also revealing the rest of the schedule of the Filipinos.

"Tuloy tuloy pa'rin yung mga practices and mga tournaments. Babalik na sila sa training bukas kasi meron kaming alis on April 9 to the US para sa US Olympic Training Center for a training camp."

"Merong ding tournament from April 14 to 21 sa Colorado. They would be competing there to maintain the rhythm. After that, balik muna dito for two weeks, then alis pa-Thailand na."

"May training camp muna sa Thailand for two weeks before the tournament. Yung Thailand Boxing Association nag invite din ng selected countries to participate para doon naman sa pre-tournament training camp. Even yung mga qualified boxers, they will be there. Obviously, ‘di sila makaka-compete kasi they're already qualified, but they will still join the training camp," he continued.

Suiting up with them in this set of camps is Marcial, with the Bronze Olympian rejoining the National team following his professional bout on Saturday.

READ: Marcial set for homecoming match against Thai boxer

However, aside from him, Paalam, Ladon, Petecio, and Villegas, the secretary-general bared that they would still be re-evaluating who would join them in their camps.

"To be honest, merong mga under evaluation pa. Hindi naman kailangan ipadala sa Thailand dahil we want our coaches to focus on the boxers who have a good chance of qualifying," said Manalo.

"If we bring everyone, mahahati pa yung attention and resources ng mga coaches, so magfo-focus na lang doon sa magandang chance to qualify."

READ: Eumir Marcial to rejoin national team training after pro fight-- ABAP

The list of names, he added, will be finalized before they depart for Thailand in early April, and Manalo also explained that they are now to prioritize quality over quantity. 

"We don't have a final line-up yet, but more on quality tayo than quantity going into the qualifiers. Yun yung plan, we don't need to bring everyone," he added. 

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