ABAP to welcome Pacquiao’s possible Olympic stint

MANILA, Philippines – Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas said boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is most welcome to join the Phl team that will chase an elusive gold medal in the coming Olympics.

“The country has been starving for a medal in the Olympics for a long time now. How can I refuse him when he’s offering to compete,” said Vargas in the sidelines of the official launch of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila.

“But I would not be the one to offer as he’s done so much for the country,” Vargas also said.

AIBA is open to accepting Pacquiao as a wild card entry in the Rio Games. Before his fight with Tim Bradley in Las Vegas, Pacquiao said he’s ready to compete for the country.

Vargas said the decision rests on Pacquiao.

“I believe AIBA can even seed him into the quarterfinals,” said Vargas.

The Philippines has been without an Olympic medal since Onyok Velasco won the silver in the 1992 Atlanta Olympics.

Charly Suarez and Rogen Ladon are two Filipino fighters who have qualified for the Rio Games.

Filipino pugs have one last crack at making the 2016 Olympics in the world boxing Olympic qualifier in Astana, Kazakhstan.

ABAP officials are hopeful the Filipino pugs will deliver in Rio.