ASBC junior joust a rousing success
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 09 Aug 2017
PUERTO PRINCESA. The ASBC (Asian Boxing Confederation) Junior Championships ended with a bang at the City Coliseum here yesterday as 142 simonpures from 18 countries bade a sad farewell to their hosts after five days of competition in ABAP?s third successful staging of an Asian-level tournament since 2010.
For a while, widespread participation in the 15-16 age group conclave was doubtful because of logistical issues, coming only a month after Bangkok staged the ASBC Youth Championships with 130 boxers from 21 countries. But ABAP executive director Ed Picson said the Philippines? reputation of hospitality was difficult to ignore.
?The MVP Cup, a pocket tournament consisting of six countries, was our first hosting test at the PICC in 2010,? said Picson. ?Then, in 2013, we held the ASBC Youth Championships in Subic and introduced a lot of fun activities like raffles, parlor games and dancing to music from a live band which were never done before. Our ABAP president Mr. (Ricky) Vargas is now an ASBC executive committee member so when he invited countries to participate, they were excited to come over. The original plan was for Davao to host but we later shifted the venue to Puerto Princesa.?
Vargas flew in from Manila last Sunday and witnessed the finals yesterday with Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez and ABAP vice president Patrick Gregorio. They made sure the red carpet was laid out for the 70 visiting officials, including ASBC executive director Bagdaulet Turekhanov of Kazakhstan and tournament supervisor Mohamed Kamel Shbib of Saudi Arabia.
The budget for the event was P10 Million of which P3.3 Million was contributed by the PSC and the rest by the MVP Sports Foundation and the MVP Group. There were 15 referees/judges (RJs) assigned to the tournament with Jonathan Jimenez, a high school principal in Albay, the only Filipino. ?We were about 30 in the local organizing committee and only six came from Manila, the rest from Puerto Princesa,? said Picson. ?We also provided livestreaming of the semifinals and finals with Sev Sarmenta and Dennis Principe as commentators so the action was accessible world-wide via the internet.? Competition manager Karina Picson, an AIBA-licensed tournament supervisor who has passed tests to work in APB (AIBA Pro Boxing), WSB (World Series of Boxing) and AOB (AIBA Open Boxing) events, was credited for the smooth conduct of the fights each of which was scheduled for three two-minute rounds.
?We found out Bangkok?s budget to host the recent ASBC Youth Championships was the equivalent of about P19 Million so almost double ours,? said Picson. ?In 2013, our budget for Subic was almost the same as our budget for Palawan. Somehow, we made things fit.? Picson said the Philippines would?ve entered seven competitors but three failed to get passports, the standard basis to determine age eligibility in AIBA tournaments. Two of the absentees were from Cagayan de Oro and one was from Cebu. Picson said they could?ve gone far in their weight classes.
?We informed their coaches three months ago to prepare the passports,? said Picson. ?Four were able to get passports but three didn?t. The coaches of the three who didn?t make it got a dressing down. They were advised how to proceed in getting the passports but apparently, were negligent.? Left to carry the flag for the country were pinweight Kenneth de la Pena, lightflyweight Criz Russo Laurente, flyweight John Vincent Pangga and lightweight Norlan Petecio.
Vargas said since the country has now hosted ASBC Junior and Youth Championships, the next goal is to stage the ASBC Men?s Championships, possibly in 2019. This year, the men?s elite tournament was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with 179 fighters from 28 countries in 10 weight categories. The Filipino medalists were lightflyweight Rogen Ladon and flyweight Daniel Maamo whose bronze finishes earned tickets to the World Championships in Hamburg on Aug. 25-Sept. 3.
Photo: The ASBC officials in Palawan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai
Wed, 03 Dec 2025OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Who was Clever Sison?
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 03 Dec 2025MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026
Wed, 03 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video
Wed, 03 Dec 2025Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Two Pacquiaos on same card?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
Tue, 02 Dec 2025