MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine boxing team headed by Tokyo-bound Irish Magno and Olympic aspirants Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam left the country on Wednesday for a training camp in Thailand.
The Nationals left at 10 a.m. aboard a Philippine Airlines flight to Bangkok where they would be quarantined for a time before flying again to Ko Samui Island for training and competition sparring until April 10.
From there, they will move to Muaklek, which is located in the outskirts of Bangkok, for another bubble-type training.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ricky Vargas said they are looking at fielding the squad to the Asian Boxing Confederation tournament set May 21-30 in New Delhi, India as part of the country’s Olympic preparation.
“We are very grateful to Thai Boxing president Pichai Chunhavajira for the initiative,” said Vargas.
The team flew minus another Summer Games-bound pug Eumir Felix Marcial, who reportedly decided to stay put in the United States to train with Hall of Famer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson said the possibility of Marcial joining the Thailand trip is still being talked about.
“Pinag-uusapan pa (It’s still up for discussion),” said Picson.
ABAP is using the Thailand camp to prepare not just Magno but also Petecio and Paalam as well since the latter two are reportedly getting slots to Tokyo due to their high rankings.
It would have served Marcial well too if he opted to join the squad instead.