New coaches to plug
holes in ABAP

By CHRISTINE MONCADA

AMATEUR Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez yesterday admitted there is still a lot of retooling that has to be done with the association’s sports program.

"Madami," said Lopez. "Mada-mi pa talagang dapat gawin. The observation of some sports authorities and enthusiasts is correct. But we are doing everything to address that."

Early this month, boxing godfather Manny V. Pangilinan, apparently disappointed after all five RP boxers sent to the Asian qualifying in Bangkok failed to secure a ticket for the Beijing Olympics, commented that the ABAP should review its program.

The telecommunications mogul also observed that the country, which is leaning heavily on boxing to end its age-old gold medal drought in the quadrennial event, is already far behind its chief rival, Thailand.

Only light flyweight Harry Tañamor is assured of a berth in the Beijing Games after winning a silver medal in the 2007 AIBA World Championships in Chicago as opposed to eight Thai qualifiers.

"But that’s exactly why we hired Cuban coaches and sent them to work immediately. We want more qualifiers in the Olympics para lumaki ang chance natin," added Lopez.

Foreign mentors Juan Enrique Steyners Tissert and Dagoberto Rojas Scott proceeded to a sports facility in Baguio City yesterday to handle the training of the national boxers.

Tissert and Scott’s first mission is to help the local pugs land a slot in Olympics in the final Asian qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan next month.

"Hinahabol talaga namin ‘yung qualifying sa Kazakhstan next month. Hindi huminto ang mga atleta natin sa paghahanda para sa qualifying, but we’re more confident now that the Cuban coaches are here to guide them."

Meanwhile, Doha Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon, among those who failed in Bangkok, welcomed the arrival of the two Cuban coaches and expressed high hopes it will tremendous help the Filipinos’ quest to make it to the Beijing Olympics.

"Malaking tulong ‘yang pag-dating nila. Ang sabi madami na daw na-produce na champion ‘yang dalawa, so sana makatulong talaga sila at sa tingin ko naman gagawin nila ’yun," he added.