THE Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) is hoping to tap potential sponsors for its national team when it holds a boxing conference on January 22 in Bacolod City.
Abap secretary-general Patrick Gregorio said the association has invited potential sponsors and stakeholders in the conference set on the fifth day of the national open championships at the Negros Occidental Multipurpose Activity Center.
?That?s one of the objectives of the event,? Gregorio told the BusinessMirror on Sunday. ?[Aside from] the national open, we will be holding a boxing conference to discuss the programs of Abap and explain how they [sponsors] can help.?
Before the conference, Abap will also hold its first board of trustees? meeting under new president Ricky Vargas and chairman Manny Pangilinan.
Gregorio said the association is confident it will find new talents who could be groomed to represent the country in future international competitions.
?This does not mean na disband ang current national team but they [current boxers on the national team] still have to earn their spots again,? he said. ?This is our talent-identification program and, hopefully, this will usher in the glory days of Philippine boxing.?
In the last national open in Cagayan de Oro City, some members of the national team were beaten by upstarts.
Expected to compete anew in the open are current nationals Harry Ta?amor, Joan Tipon, Charlie Suarez, Delfin Boholst, Wilfredo Lopez, Genebert Basadre and Orlando Tacuyan Jr.
The national open will start on January 18 and Gregorio said that Abap has invited Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao to be the guest speaker in the eight-day event, which is organized by Abap with Smart and newly elected Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman Monico Puentevella as partners.
Gregorio said the national open, which is a yearly undertaking of Abap, is just part of the bigger program they are planning to produce quality boxers from all over the country and fulfill the ultimate goal of winning the first Olympic gold medal in 2012 in London.
The former Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director said they also intend to form an interregional amateur tournament within the year to strengthen the association?s grassroots programs.
Gregorio said delegates from different boxing organizations will arrive on January 17 in time for the general weigh in and medical checkup. The opening ceremonies will be held the following day.
