The national boxing team expressed its gratitude to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for refurbishing its strength and conditioning facility at the Teachers Camp in Baguio City.

Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Marcus Jarwin Manalo thanked PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio for having the political will to refurbish the government-owned training facility, saying that it will be a big boost to their preparation for major international tournaments ahead.

“First training session of the boxing team at the newly-refurbished weight training gym in the PSC Baguio facility,” Manalo said in a social media post on Saturday.

“Thank you so much PSC chairman Pato Gregorio for your efficiency — having a good understanding of athletes’ needs and getting it done right away in just two weeks.”

The ABAP is a federation that is close to Gregorio’s heart.

In fact, prior to his appointment as PSC chief on 1 July, he has been an ABAP secretary general for more than a decade in which he led the federation in the recruitment and development of future Olympians in Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas and Carlo Paalam.

While handling ABAP, Gregorio also led the Philippine Rowing Association, where he played a key role in the qualification of Cris Nievarez to the Tokyo Olympics and Joanie Delgaco in the Paris Olympics.

Now that he’s on top of the government sports agency, Gregorio is using his vast experience as a former national sports association leader to help Filipino athletes.