• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is preparing to establish a regional training center in Bago City, Negros Occidental, to enhance grassroots boxing development and technical education.
ABAP officials, led by president Marcus Manalo, met with Mayor Mayette Javellana Sept. 14 to outline plans for training, competitions, and accreditation programs for boxers, coaches, and technical officials.
“We’re preparing for Bago City to be launched as a regional training center for boxing. All the programs related to that, like the training center, competitions, coaches and technical officials and education programs for the boxers were discussed,” Manalo said in an interview with The Citybridge.
Manalo noted the accomplishments of Bago City and Negros Occidental of producing Olympic medalists, including Roel Velasco and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco.
“It’s logical and fitting to really put a regional training center in Bago,” he added, noting that most members of their team in their national training center in Baguio City are mostly from Bago.
“Instead of uprooting them early from their foundation, from their family, from their school, we can continue to provide them the training that they need near their support system. Once they turn elite and prepare for major competitions, that’s the time we bring them to the national training center,” Manalo added.
ABAP secretary-general Sebastian Ripoll highlighted that the initiative marks a long-awaited effort by the national sports body to formally accredit regional coaches and technical staff.
“Those who are currently in our national team, they have the talent for it not only the physical but also the cognitive, in terms of understanding boxing. I give credit to the coaches who are here. By formalizing this, institutionalizing the center, and adding more support, I believe we will be able to compete for a higher level internationally,” Ripoll said.
The proposed project is expected to be launched next month, through a formal agreement involving the Philippine Sports Commission, the city government of Bago, and ABAP.
Javellana assured the national sports body of the city government’s all-out support for boxing development and facility modernization.
“Through this collaboration, the city government, for its part, reaffirms its commitment to strengthening youth sports development and building future national champions right from home,” the city said in a statement. | TMD
