THE boxers who represented the country at the recent 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos are very happy. That’s because the national boxing association, headed by chair Manny Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas, kept its word.
As soon as they returned from Laos, the boxers received the promised incentives for their medal-winning performances.
The five gold medalists each received P300,000, the lone silver medalist got P200,000 while the three bronze medalists pocketed P100,000 each. The coaches also received a bonus of P50,000 each.
The incentives couldn’t have come at a better time. Meantime, Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping announced that his promised incentives will come in installments.
Incidentally, why were the boxers not allowed to use the quarters built for them by the PSC at the Rizal Memorial complex? Is it true that they are waiting for President Macapagal-Arroyo and Manny Pacquiao to inaugurate the quarters before the boxers can use it? Is that more important than the boxers’ welfare?
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Ricky Vargas was touched by the stories of the female boxers.
One of the girls told him she desperately wanted to win so she could earn some money to bring home her mother, who has been working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong for 11 years.
Another girl told him she needed the money to help repair the roof of their house, which leaks when it rains.
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Smart Sports and ABC-5 will team up with the famous ALA Gym of Cebu to stage and telecast a blockbuster boxing card at Waterfront Hotel on Jan. 14, in conjunction with the Sinulog celebration.
Two most promising boxers—world-rated Milan Melindo and AJ “Bazooka” Banal will fight tough foreign foes.
It seems the television networks are going into boxing in a big way. ABS-CBN network recently signed a two-year deal with Top Rank’s Bob Arum, and their initial presentation was a rousing start.
But for all they’ve got, the biggest name —Manny Pacquiao—still belongs to Solar Sports up to the year 2013.
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Despite some setbacks, no thanks to the parents of swimmers from Cebu, Asap secretary general Susan Papa’s crusade continues.
She is now in Baguio with fellow coaches Manny Thruelen and Dennis Cordero to train a select group of athletes 10 to 17 years old in high altitude swimming.
“I have high hopes for this group, that is why even in the midst of the Christmas holidays we are here in Baguio training in freezing weather for a grand nationwide tryout which will be conducted in January,” Susan said.
She said three of her swimmers—the Cordero sisters—have equaled the popularity of the Lozada sisters, who rose to fame 35 years ago.
Susan and her age-group swimmers returned from a successful competition in Bangkok two weeks ago. For the first time, no parent was allowed to chaperone the swimmers.
“It was a good experiment and a great experience. We made the biggest medal haul ever in my career as a swimming coach,” Susan said.
