MVP International Friendship Cup Set July 14
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 02 Jul 2010
Three crack teams, two in the men?s division and one in the women?s side will carry the country?s flag in the coming first Manuel V. Pangilinan International Friendship Cup slated July 14-15 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The men?s teams, headed by battle-scarred featherweight Charly Suarez, are culled from the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines tough selection process that saw 14 of its eventual members sparred against their professional counterparts in the final two weeks of preparations in the hope of honing their skills for the big battle ahead.
Suarez, gold medallist in last year?s Southeast Asian Games, flyweight Rey Saludar and light-flyweight Victorio Saludar, according to ABAP executive director Ed Picson, have been seeded to the lineups by virtue of their having chosen to form five-boxer super elite team
All others ? light-flyweight Bill Vicera, flyweight Gerson Nietes, bantamweights Glicerio Catolico III, featherweight Jherhigs Chavez, lightweights Joegin Ladon and Jameboy Vicera, light-welterweights Jimmy Vallares and Rolando Tacuyan and welterweights Delfin Boholst and Wilfredo Lopez ? have survived the rigors of a training program conducted by the national coaching staff, headed by Pat Gaspi.
SEA Games gold medallists, pinweight Josie Gabuco, light-flyweight Alice Kate Aparri and flyweight Annie Albania, will spearhead the host country?s campaign in the distaff side along with bantamweight Nesthy Petecio and featherweight Noeme Tacda.
?All I can say is, these teams of ours had gone through an extensive selection process in our efforts to prepare them to do battle against their counterparts from six other counties and present our Boss, MVP a gift in his birthday,? Gaspi, who was with Picson as guest at the SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session yesterday at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura
?Of course ayaw nilang mapahiya sa birthday pa naman ng Boss namin, kaya nangako sila na ibibigay lahat para lamang manalo at bigyan ng kasiyahan si Mr. MVP,? Gaspi said during the public service forum sponsored by PLDT and Fila Sports Aparrel, represented in the session by Dianne Pagtalunan Aileen Castaneda.
The boxing tournament, the first to be held at the PICC and also serves as the revival of the now-defunct Mayor?s Cup, is also held in honor of PLDT and Smart Telecommunications top honcho Pangilinan, also popularly called MVP in sports and business sectors, whose natal day falls on the opening day July 14.
?The MVP Cup is the first time international competition to be hosted by the new ABAP leadership (Chairman Pangilinan and President Ricky Vargas), Picson said. ?it is for this reason that I am happy to announce that admission is free in the duration of the tournament.?
Picson added that buses will be stationed at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex , where ABAP headquarter is situated, to bring fans who would want to watch the competitions to the fight venue.
Thailand, Picson assured will be sending its Team A, made up of the country?s Olympic and Asian Games medalists. Other countries participating are China, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Macau. Gracing the six-day series that draws some 60 finest boxers from the participating counties are no less than International Amateur Boxing Association president, Dr. Ching Kuo Wu, his counterpart in the Asian Boxing confederation Chang Jianping and executive director Richard Guozheng.
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