After AIG success, RP lady boxers gear up for SEA Games

For the Philippine women’s boxing team that competed in the 3rd Asian Indoor Games (AIG), there is still a lot of retooling to be made before they plunge into action in the 2009 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Laos next month. “Napakalaking bagay ang pagsali namin sa (AIG)," said RP team assistant coach Roel Velasco in Friday’s SCOOP sa Kamayan forum. “Namulat ang mata namin kung ano-ano pa ang mga bagay na dapat i-adjust namin para mag-improve pa ang mga bata." “Kulang pa kami sa skills pero sisiguraduhin namin na maayos ito bago mag-SEA Games," said Velasco, a bronze medal winner in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. Annie Albania won gold in the Vietnam AIG while Mitchel Martinez captured the silver. Josie Gabuco took home the bronze medal in the said meet. The RP women’s boxing team arrived in Manila Thursday after their successful stint in Vietnam with a lot of new things learned from their experience. Head coach Boy Catolico said that the girls still need to adjust to the new rules of the Amateur International Boxing Association (AIBA) which are now meticulous in scoring blows. “The Asian Indoor Games adopted the new rules on how blows are being scored, kaya medyo nanibago ang mga bata natin. Nabigla at nahirapan kung paano kumuha ng puntos, lalo na yung mga baguhan," said Catolico. “Nagpapasasalamat kami sa PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) at pinayagan kaming lumaban doon at sa Philippine Olympic Committee at ABAP (Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines) na nakipaglaban para kami mapasama sa Vietnam," Catolico said. Albania, Martinez and Gabuco all agreed that they gained a lot from fighting against top-caliber opponents in the AIG as they prepare for the Laos SEAG as they look to improve on their lone gold medal in the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima. Albania won that lone gold on a knockout against a Thai fighter two years ago. – GMANews.TV