Newly-crowned AIBA World featherweight Champion Nesthy Petecio leading the campaign in the women’s side of boxing hostilities, as the Philippines looks a cinch to remain the overall champion in boxing in the coming 30th Southeast Asian Games.
This, coupled with the fact, that light-flyweight Josie Gabuco, a world titlist herself, an honor she earned in 2012, is still around to carry the flag anew.
The recent world championship gold medal feat of Petecio, indeed, strengthned the hosts’ chances to remain a force to reckon with.
“That victory of Nesthy in the world championship, is definitely, a big factor in our campaign for another overall title,” Pat Gaspi, ABAP’s (Association of nBoing alliances of the Philippines) overall head coach, asserted on Friday’s SCOOP Forum aired over the Manila Times Television.
“And with Josie still with the team, mas malaki ang pagasa natin ngayon,” Gaspi assured, pointing out to Gabuco’s international credentials, among others -- a bronze medallist in the 2018 Worlds and a four straight SEA Games gold medal since a decade ago.
Gabuco, has been undefeted since winning her division in 2009 Games, a feat broken in 2015 when boxing was scrapped in the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur.
Serving as added motivation to Petecio, according to Gaspi, is she still has to bring home a SEA gold medal since she started wearing the ciountry’s tri-colors in 2011.
Petecio has, since then, settled for three consecutive silver medal productions in 2011 in Indonesia, 2013 in Myanmar and 2015 in Malaysia.
“Excited na rin ang ating women fighters, especially after boxing was removed from the calendar the last time around in Kuala Lumpur,” Gaspi added.
A fortnight ago in the same forum, organized by the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines in coordination of the Manila Times TV, men’s team ead coach Ronald Chavez, his assistant Roel Velasco and boxers Eumir Marcial and Charly Suarez confirmed the boxing teams’ aim of winning the overall plum anew.
Gaspi disclosed, too, that the scheduled departure of the men’s and women’s teams on Sunday br Australia for the final leg of their build up program has been pospoined for at least another week.
“We’re still waiting for visas which, we hope will be released early next week. Gaspi said, adding the Philippine Sports Commission has already extended its hands to facilitate the issuance of entry documents.
Other members of the womn’/s squad ar3 flyweight Irish Magno, bantamweight Ana Villegas and lightweight Riza Pasuit.
Magnoaned Pasuit are presentlyin Cina vying nfornhonors nin nan intenatiolan tournament there as part of their training.(Eddie Alinea)