GOOD START BY NEW ABAP
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 22 Jan 2009
BACOLOD CITY ? All is well in this most livable city which is the host of the 2009 Smart National Amateur Boxing Championships. The Negros Amateur Boxing Association (NABA) Vice President Oscar ?Dodong? Bascon serves as my gracious host as I arrived here on January 20, the same day the new US President Barack Obama was sworn into office.
Congressman Monico Puentevella?s men fetched me at the new Bacolod-Silay Airport and we went directly to the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center, the venue of the tournament. Two boxing rings were used and bouts for elite, juniors, youth and kids and female boxers were conducted.
The gym was packed of boxers, officials and spectators and the more than 600 participants who came out of the expected 400 contestants only, shows that confidence and interest in amateur boxing have reached tremendous heights with the new organizational set-up.
?Definitely, it?s the new set of ABAP officials which gives a fresh invigorating start that could lead to the complete reform of the sport of amateur boxing in the country,? said Bascon, also the President of the Negros Basketball Association and husband of Himamaylan City Mayor Carminia Bascon.
Delegation officials here are confident that the new ABAP is on the right launching. And with innovative inputs solicited from the different stakeholders in the Congress which will start today, the ABAP administrators are positive we have a solid chance of winning our first Olympic gold medal in boxing.
Manny Pacquiao?s presence in the opening ceremony renewed the general public?s interest in the sport, as the young boxers are similarly inspired to follow the footsteps of the world?s number one boxer pound-for-pound.
?It?s Pacquiao?s charisma which draws more people to patronize boxing,? added Bascon. ?And his international exploits made boxing a spectator sport for all ages and genders in the Philippines.?
My cordial host also tendered a lunch for mediamen from Manila, which I also joined. The more than two hours of discussion with the sportswriters and broadcasters gave new insights on sports, particularly amateur boxing. They were also impressed by the successful start of the national tournament.
Dodong also talked about his highly successful Negros Basketball Association ventures and his stint as owner of the Negros Slashers in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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