The Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines lauded the strong performance of Rogen Ladon and Nesthy Petecio in the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying-Busto Arsizio 2024 in Italy.

But the federation knows that the quest for spots in the Paris Olympics is still far from over.

ABAP secretary general Marcus Manalo yesterday tempered expectations, saying that the victories posted by former Olympians Ladon and Petecio would be worthless if they will not make it to the Summer Games set from 26 July to 11 August.

Ladon, who vied in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, opened his campaign with a 4-1 decision over Federico Emilio Serra of Italy in the men's 51-kilogram division while Petecio turned back Andela Brankovic of Serbia via Round 1 RSC (referee-stopped-contest) in the women's 57-kg division.

The only casualty in the vaunted national boxing squad was Riza Pasuit, who was eliminated by Krisandy Rios of Venezuela, 0-5, in the Round of 64 of the women's 60-kg division.

"It was a good start for the team. Rogen and Nesthy performed well as we expected, but it's a long road ahead," Manalo said, emphasizing that they have to stay consistent if they want to be well-represented in the Paris Games.

"There are 602 boxers from 113 countries with the same Olympic dreams so we really need to focus on every step."

So far, Eumir Marcial is the lone Filipino to punch a ticket to the Summer Games after emerging with a silver medal in the men's 80-kg event of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last September.

In a previous interview, Marcial admitted that he will have to walk the tightrope when he starts his Olympic quest since the division's big guns have already qualified.

"The competition there will be very tough since the Cuban super champion Arlen Lopez is there as well as the Chinese who beat me in Hangzhou. The Ukrainian who beat me in the semis of the Tokyo Olympics — Oleksandr Khyzhniak — will be there too so it's a star-studded cast."

Aside from Ladon and Petecio, other Filipino boxers chasing for Olympic slots are Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam in the men's 57-kg event, Mark Ashley Fajardo in the men's 63.5-kg event, Ronald Chavez in the men's 71-kg class, and John Nobel Marvin in the men's 92-kg class.

In the distaff side, Aira Villegas (50-kg), Claudine Veloso (54-kg), and Hergie Bacyadan (75-kg) are all still trying to qualify in the Olympics.

The Philippines sent four boxers to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 with Petecio and Paalam taking home silver medals in the men's flyweight and women's featherweight, respectively while Marcial emerged with a bronze medal in the men's middleweight division.

Irish Magno was the lone boxer to go home empty-handed after losing to Jutamas Jitpong of Thailand in the Round of 16 of the women's flyweight division.