SEA GAMES BOXING MEDALISTS TO RECEIVE CASH INCENTIVES FROM ABAP
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 12 Jan 2014
The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) will grant cash incentives to the boxing medalists who won in the recently-concluded Southeast Asian Games held in Myanmar last December. Boxing was one of the few sports who saved the Philippines' dismal showing at the 27th SEA Games as the country placed only seventh with a meager 29 gold medal haul, the lowest so far. All ten Filipino boxers who were sent to Naypyidaw, Myanmar came home with medals including three golds, four silvers, and three bronzes.
?We?re very proud of our male and female boxers who slugged it out even under adverse conditions. We are also proud that our benefactors from PLDT, Smart and Maynilad again came through. They all chipped in for the P2M total cash incentive,? said ABAP President Ricky Vargas in interAKTV. Gold medal winners get P300,000, silver P200,000 and bronze P100,000 apiece. This is aside from the incentive to be given by the Philippine Sports Commission. As per Republic Act 9064 otherwise known as the Incentives Act, gold medalists will receive P100,000, silver medalists P50,000, and bronze medalists P10,000 from the PSC.
Light-flyweight Josie Gabuco defended her Southeast Asian Games crown over Indonesian Beatrix Suguro for her second straight SEA Games gold medal. London Olympian light-flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga outpointed Konelis Langu of Indonesia for another gold medal. Bantamweight Mario Fernandez edged Donchai Tathi of Thailand.
Welterweight Wilfredo Lopez lost a potential fourth gold medal in his bout with Kristianus Ina of Myanmar after the referee stopped the bout in the dying seconds of the fight due to a cut above his eyebrow as he was supposedly leading on points. The other silver winners were lightweight Junel Cantancio, light welterweight Dennis Galvan and featherweight Nesthy Petecio. Flyweight Maricris Igam and bantamweight Irish Magno and flyweight Rey Saludar earned bronze medals for the Philippines.
"We were robbed of at least two golds with the controversial loss of Lopez and Petecio in the finals," ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson declared. Saludar was also defeated by what he saw as a hometown decision against a Myanmar boxer in the semifinals. But they did not file a protest anymore.
"You must always think positively every fight and accept that there's cheating," said Josie Gabuco. "So you have to dominate your opponent in order to win convincingly." Petecio meanwhile realized his shortcomings: " I lacked the agressiveness which I would like to correct in my future fights."
"I really won that fight had it not been stopped by the referee. My coach told me I was ahead on points," lamented Lopez. " I have to accept though that I had some flaws in the fight."
Coach Roel Velasco said they will prepare for the coming 2014 Asian Games. "ABAP trains for the Asiad by sending our boxers to international competitions."
Photo: The Philippines' Josie Gabuco won a gold medal in the recent South East Asian Games held in Myanmar.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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