MANILA, Philippines - Halos dalawang buwan nang hindi nakakapag-ensayo si Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar at dalawa pang national boxing mainstays dahilan sa kanilang trabaho sa Philippine Army.
Sinabi ni ABAP executive director Ed Picson na hindi na nakakasama sa kanilang pagsasanay sina flyweight ace Saludar at Guangzhou veterans lightwelter Delfin Boholst at welter Wilfredo Lopez mula noong Enero dahil sa paghihintay sa kanilang Detailed Service (DS) mula sa General Headquarters ng Philippine Army
Ang DS ang magbibigay sa mga enlisted personnel na miyembro ng Phl team na tumutok sa kanilang national squad training imbes na magreport sa headquarters ng kanilang mother units.
“We’re doing everything to facilitate the release of their papers from Philippine Army so that they can resume their training (with the national team). These are three of our brightest prospects for the Olympic qualifiers this September,” sabi ni Picson.
Bunga ng kanilang Army duties, makakasama lamang sina Private First Class-ranked Saludar, Boholst, at Lopez sa light morning warmups ng national team sa loob ng 30 minuto bago dumiretso sa Aguinaldo.
Babalik sila sa PSC-ABAP gym ng alas-6 ng gabi ngunit hindi na sila makakasabay sa afternoon workouts.
“They really have some catching up to do in training, being unable to join the partner plays, bags and sparring sessions. We hope they could be allowed to resume their training,” ani Picson.
Ayon kay Picson, humiling na ang Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) sa military branches ng DS para sa mga concerned athletes.
Nasa Philippine Air Force na rin sina lightweight Orlando Tacuyan, featherweight Junel Cantancio, and Albert Pavila.
“They’ve not been training for almost two years now,” sabi ni Picson. “Two years ago, they were three of our brightest hopes but they’ve been sidelined since 2009. We’re hoping they can rejoin the team, sayang naman kasi.”