The last time the Philippines dominated the boxing competitions in the Southeast Asian Games was in 2005, when the country last hosted the biennial conclave.
The hosts’ boxing team, led by the now head coach Ronald Chavez, hacked out an eight-gold medal harvest with the men’s and women’s sides splitting the loot with four each.
In this 30th edition of the Games, the Filipino fighters don’t like to promise anything, except to say that they are aiming to repeat that’s 2005 winnings and regain the sport’s overall title.
A few weeks ago, during the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines (SCOOP) On Air Forum, Chavez and his assistant, 1992 Barcelona Olympic bronze medallist Roel Velasco boldly predicted the target is doable.
The duo, however, limited theirs projections to the men’s team’s chances.
On Friday, it will be women’s coach Boy Velasco and consultant Pat Gaspi’s turn to assess how the nationals will be able to contribute to that cause when they appear as guests in the weekly forum, held in coordination with The Manila Times Television.
Velasco, the eldest of the Velasco boxing siblings that include Roel and 1996 Atlanta silver medallist Mansueto “Onyok,” Velasco was with featherweight Nesthy Petecio when she won her division crown in the women’s world championship in Russia.
Also guesting in Friday’s session is former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, president of the Diliman Preparatory School, who will be discussing the institutions successful sports program that produced national athletes in several disciplines.
Diliman Preparatory School is celebrating itsGolden Anniversary this coming December.
Ms. Coseteng will be accompanied to the SCOOP Forum by the school’s athletic director Rensy Bajar. (Eddie Alinea)