Boxing team eyeing more Tokyo tickets

MANILA, Philippines  — Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ricky Vargas said they’re hopeful at least three more Filipino boxers can qualify to the Tokyo Olympics next year alongside Eumir Felix Marcial and Irish Magno.

Vargas said there is a big chance the country can have a total of five pugs to Tokyo especially with the extra time to prepare on the resetting of the summer games to next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Hopefully, we can qualify five. This is going to be a bountiful crop, and this could be our best chance of winning a gold,” said Vargas.

The ABAP chief mentioned Nesthy Petecio as the brightest hope despite missing the cut in the Olympic qualifier in Amman, Jordan last March.

Vargas said Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon and Ian Clark Bautista also have realistic chance to make it to Tokyo.

“Nesthy (Petecio) has a 90-percent chance to qualify because she’s really eager to qualify and redeem herself. She’s very focused,” said Vargas.

Magno and Petecio have just arrived from Baguio where they had been stranded for months due to the lockdown. They will undergo quarantine procedures at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City before they head home to their respective provinces.

Magno, who is from Iloilo, and Petecio, who hails from Davao, gave up their Christmas vacation to train for the Olympic qualifier before getting stuck in Baguio.

“I still have no flight details but I desperately want to go home. I miss my family,” said Petecio. “But I will continue to train there with the help of my father (Teodoro).”

Vargas said Magno and Petecio also plan to do charity work while in their respective provinces.

“They’re training and helping the community. They very admirable, not looking at themselves,” said Vargas.