Packing a punch

BAGUIO CITY — At 6:30 each morning six days a week, the members of the national boxing team report for weights training at a facility just a few minutes from their quarters that also functions as a gym.

A great number are youth and junior boxers both male and female while the rest are members of the elite fighting unit of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).

Making sure the facility operates and runs smoothly are Pat Gaspi, Ronald Chavez, Roel Velasco and Australian Don Abnett, who are also housed within the vast Teacher’s Camp property owned by the government and manned by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

On a cool Tuesday morning, Chavez, Velasco and Abnett were on hand to supervise the training as Gaspi was in Manila for his semi-annual medical checkup.

“Many of these boys and girls are going to be the future of Philippine boxing,” said Chavez, whose colorful career was highlighted by his stint in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

“That kid,” Velasco, pointing to a tall and rangy guy.

“He”s got a lot of talent,” said Velasco, who took the bronze in the light-fly class in Barcelona.

But Velasco insists that while talent is everything, an aspiring boxer has to have four things.

“STDD,” Velasco said while the boxers and coaching staff were dining on dishes prepared by a chef who used to work at the Manor.

“Sipag (hard work), tyaga (perseverance), dedication at dasal (prayers),” Velasco said.

“If you have talent and you have these STDD, then you will most likely succeed.”

The national team is still made up of the old reliables in Eumir Marcial, Ian Clark Bautista and Carlo Paalam but Velasco and Chavez both agree that the young blood are slowly taking charge.

But new names have been making waves lately.

Based on their international showing, Jay Bryan Baricuatro, Mark Ashley Fajardo, Marvin Tabamo, Flint Jara, Junmilardo Ogayre, Eljay Pamisa and Ronald Chavez Jr. have all what it takes to carry the flag in the near future.

Fajardo, who hails from Talisay in Cebu, insists he is not turning professional, citing that he is afraid of being exploited.

“I love fighting in the amateurs and I love training here in Baguio where the air is cool and relaxing,” said the 21-year-old.

Townmate Baricuatro, 20, also is determined to remain in the amateurs.

Velasco swears the ABAP has a lot to offer.

“If you become a member of the national team, you get an allowance not just from the PSC but from the military as well and you get to travel and compete overseas,” Velasco said, adding that apart from the allowances, national boxers are housed and provided food and healthcare.

Sustenance is one thing Velasco said has been given importance by the current PSC chaired by Patrick “Pato” Gregorio.

The national team was convened three weeks ago and Gregorio made sure the boxing team would get what it deserves.

“It was chairman Gregorio who made this happen. High-quality food and the training equipment that we have right now,” Velasco added.

This year, the ABAP has a lot of tough events lined up, foremost of which is the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

“That’s the biggest this year and we are going to prepare long and hard,” Chavez said.

Ultimately, all these would lead to 2028 when Los Angeles hosts the Summer Games.

With a coaching staff stacked with the best minds and the PSC going the extra mile, the end for a gold in boxing looks within reach.