From hoops to boxing
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 06 May 2023
Markus Tongco.
Markus Tongco never imagined he would someday join the Philippine boxing team in the SEA Games as playing basketball was his priority before the pandemic. The 6-5 Tongco was recruited by coach Jimuel Gican to play for the De La Salle Zobel high school varsity in the UAAP and in 2016, saw action for the Junior Archers who battled NU in the finals of Season 78.
Tongco said the finals appearance was a highlight of his three-year stay at Zobel. The Bullpups were bannered by Justine Baltazar and John Lloyd Clemente while Tongco recalled some of his teammates were Aljun Melecio, Brent Paraiso, Marco Sario, Jaime Cabarrus and Miguel Fortuna. Coach Jeff Napa’s NU squad swept the elims with a 14-0 record and enjoyed a thrice-to-beat advantage in the finals. Zobel delivered the only stain in NU’s record with a 71-60 upset in Game Two but couldn’t hold back the Bullpups who won Game One, 78-58 and Game Three, 96-75.
From Zobel, Tongco moved to College of St. Benilde and Perpetual but couldn’t crack their senior Team A lineups. He went back to his Cagayan de Oro hometown and played two years with the Xavier-Ateneo de Cagayan varsity. Tongco completed his undergrad studies with a Business Administration degree, major in marketing, last year and will receive his diploma during graduation rites in July.
When the pandemic struck, Tongco stayed home to wait out the storm. He kept in shape banging a heavy bag, did shadow boxing and pushed himself in calisthenics. As things normalized, Tongco decided to continue training at the WLS gym in Cagayan de Oro and coincidentally, the facility is where the city’s boxing team works out. Eventually, he was invited to try sparring and embraced the discipline of boxing.
“I weighed over 100 kilos then I started to go down,” said Tongco, the oldest of three boys. “Iba ang challenge ng boxing. It’s not playing, it’s fighting.” Coach Elmer Pamisa taught him the basics and now that he’s in the ABAP pool, Tongco continues to learn from other coaches like Don Abnett, Ronald Chavez, Mario Fernandez and Jerson Nietes. In the gym, Tongco has been told to focus on building stamina, delivering 1-2 jab-straight combinations and toughening his defense. His coaches want him to take advantage of his height and reach in dominating opponents. Tongco has fought only one official fight and lost a decision to an experienced ex-pro in a three-rounder in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, late last year. With little experience, Tongco will rely on what he’s learned from the ABAP coaches in the SEA Games. Since only three fighters are entered in the 92kg heavyweight class in Cambodia, Tongco is assured of a bronze medal even if he fails to win a single bout. “I’m prepared,” he said, recounting his typical training day of running three to six laps around the oval starting at 6:30am, doing drills from 11 to 12noon and going back to the gym for 1 1/2 hours at 3pm in Teachers Camp, Baguio. He's hoping to make his father (an OFW seafarer), mother (housewife) and two brothers proud,
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Donaire ready for Tsutsumi
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS CONNOR MITCHELL GETS READY FOR HIS PRO DEBUT
Tue, 16 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION DECEMBER 15 DECEMBER 2025: Gassiev KO Pulev in 6; Mikaeljan Beats Jack for WBC Cruiser Title; Pacheco Outpoints Sadjo
By Eric Armit, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Sumalinog, Castanol rule Senior, PWD fun run
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Vargas urges boxers to defy odds
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025GIORGIO VISIOLI SETS OUT MISSION TO LAND MAJOR TITLES AFTER TENSE FIRST FACE-OFF WITH ENGLISH TITLE RIVAL JOE HOWARTH
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
Tue, 16 Dec 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025