BANGKOK — Joan Tipon and the Philippine coaching staff have prepared a simple plan against Thai Worapoj Petchkoom in the semifinals of the first AIBA Asian Olympic qualifying tournament Friday here.

They are hoping the plan–pile up points early and then sustain the pace–would work, otherwise the RP team here will return home empty-handed. A win will send Tipon to the finals of the bantamweight category and a slot in the Beijing Olympics in August.

"Okay si Joan. Pero kailangan namin na makauna at nang hindi na makatakbo ang kalaban," said Pat Gaspi, coach of the RP PLDT-Smart boxing team.

Gaspi wants Tipon to use his long reach and quick hands to neutralize the Thai’s style of going for the early points with jabs and right straights and then fighting at a distance to preserve his lead. Gaspi knows, however, it would be difficult to carry out the tactic against a talented fighter enjoying crowd support.

"Di na siya dapat magpatama kahit naka-depensa para walang dahilan na puntusan pa siya ng judges," Gaspi said of Tipon, the reigning Doha Asian Games champion.

Although the RP camp is wary of the notorious hometown decision here, results in other fights have been fair and above reproach so far.

In preparing Tipon for the fight, Gaspi tapped featherweight Orlando Tacuyan Jr. during the three-day break to simulate Petchkoom’s moves.

The Philippine Embassy has promised to bring in a big crowd to cheer and fire up Tipon, who is trying to become only the second Filipino fighter to advance to the Beijing Olympics.

Light flyweight Harry Tanamor came out of suspension to clinch an Olympic berth with a silver medal finish in the World Championships in Chicago last November.

Tipon, 25, also saw action in the world meet but was beaten in the first round by Petchkoom, who also bowed out in the second round. The former Olympic silver medalist also beat Tipon in the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam but the Filipino bet got back at the Thai champ in the semifinals of the Doha Asiad before beating Korean Han Soon Chul for the gold.

The 26-year-old Petchkoom said he expects to win and join five other Thais who have qualified for the Beijing Games. Two other Thais–light welterweight and Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong and middleweight Angkarn Chomphupoung–are also tipped to clinch Olympic berths here.