Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam will be skipping the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand from 9 to 20 December to focus on bigger tournaments next year.

National team coach Elmer Pamisa told DAILY TRIBUNE that Paalam will not be joining the national team as he shifts his focus on the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan from 19 September to 4 October.

Paalam won the men’s 54kg division after beating Aldoms Sugoro of Indonesia in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

“That’s what I heard. He told me that he will focus on the Asian Championships and Asian Games,” said Pamisa, noting that Paalam is not with the national team in Baguio City.

“In the Asian Games, if he’s able to play there, he might be able to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics. He’s in Cagayan de Oro because we will focus on training there.”

Pamisa said that Ian Clark Bautista will be competing instead in the men’s 57-kilogram division.

“He wants Ian to compete instead since he is also preparing for the Asian Games,” Pamisa said.

Even without Paalam, the Philippines will still have boxers who have a high chance to win a gold medal like women Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio (Tokyo and Paris) and Aira Villegas (Paris).