The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) plans to field a team of veterans and neophytes in the Laos Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in December.
“I believe in the principle that not all that is old is bad and not all that is new is good,” ABAP president Ricky Vargas said in the weekly SCOOP sa Kamayan session in Padre Faura.
Vargas said he wants to put to test the neophytes whether they have what it takes to win in a major tournament like the SEA Games.
The SEA Games, according to Vargas, will serve as a training ground not only for veterans aiming for top-rated international tournaments but also for young fighters who are being groomed for the 2012 London Olympics.
“Kapag hindi mo sila inilaban ngayon, they?re no longer a potential,” said Vargas, who was accompanied by secretary general Patrick Gregorio and executive director Ed Picson.
“Our problem is not getting the right talents but making these potentials stay and remain competitive. Napakarami nating talents, but if we don?t give them a second look, they might be lured to go professional,” he added.
“We need to develop the road towards the Olympics. We should not focus on getting the Olympic gold but the journey to the gold medal. We have to invest on our long-term development program,” Vargas said.
Vargas added they plan to have area tournaments all over the country and develop these new faces by letting them compete in several international events.
Though he refused to predict how many gold medals they will win in the SEA Games, he assured that the country will have a good representation in the sport.
The Laos SEAG has 16 events in both men?s and women?s divisions.
In the 2007 Thailand edition, the RP team managed only one gold, 12 silver and two bronze medals after its controversial walk out.
