MVP: There will be other opportunities

MANILA, Philippines — Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines chairman Manny V. Pangilinan yesterday expressed regret that the International Olympic Committee Boxing Task Force chose Amman, Jordan, and not the Philippines, as host of the Asia Oceania Olympic qualifier.

“The news that came out early this morning that the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Boxing that was pulled out of Wuhan, China (due to the coronavirus outbreak) has been awarded instead to Amman, Jordan is obviously, a disappointment,” said Pangilinan in a statement yesterday.

Pangilinan, popularly known as MVP, said they would have given it their best had the BTF, headed by world gymnastics chief Morinari Watanabe, gave its nod.

“We were prepared to fully support the hosting and would have mobilized all resources available toward that end,” said Pangilinan.

The country’s No. 1 sports patron hopes the Philippines will get an opportunity to host an event of its magnitude in the future.

“But there will be other opportunities and we remain steadfast in our commitment to support our boxing program with the same enthusiasm we have shown the past 10 years,” he said.

Pangilinan assured the public though that they will never waiver in their bid to help the country claim its very first Olympic gold.

“As I committed to ABAP president Ricky Vargas and secretary-general Ed Picson when we first decided to tender an offer to host the Asia-Oceania Qualifiers, we will continue to back our boxers’ drive for glory in the Olympics,” said Pangilinan.

He also thanked everyone who supported the country’s bid.

“I thank the IOC Boxing Task Force for their kind consideration of our offer. We wish Jordan well in their hosting. I also wish to convey our appreciation to those who supported our bid to host, notably the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, IOC representative to the Philippines Ms. Mikee Jaworski and the public at large,” he said.

The decision was made known after the ABAP received an appreciation letter from the BTF thanking the country for stepping up as a potential replacement host.

From Feb. 3 to 14 in Wuhan, the event is now being pencilled for March 3 to 11 in Amman.