BOXING icon Manny Pacquiao, center, accepts a souvenir national team shirt from the PLDT-ABAP boxers bound for the Tammer Cup in Finland and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Standing from left are: Delfin Boholst, Coach Roel Velasco, Charly Suarez, Victorio Saludar, Coach Ronald Chavez, Rey Saludar, RP women's team manager Karina Picson, Head Coach Pat Gaspi, and ABAP executive director Ed Picson. Seated in front are Coach Nolito Velasco and Annie Albania.[ABAP]
The Philippine National Boxing Team was among the handful of people allowed entry into the closed-door training session of world Pound-for-Pound King Manny Pacquiao in Baguio City Saturday.
Famed trainer Freddie Roach acceded to the request of ABAP officials Patrick Gregorio and Ed Picson who motored to Baguio City to oversee the final preparations of the boxers leaving for the prestigious Tammer Cup in Tampere, Finalnd this Tuesday.
Pacquiao had earlier assured ABAP officials that he would help in the training of our national boxers.
“Having our boxers observe firsthand the work ethic and intensity Pacquiao brings to his training sessions is more than enough to inspire our boxers and give them an idea of what the keys to success are. I just hope these sunk in”, commented Picson after Pacquiao’s grueling 2 1/2-hour session at the Shape-Up Gym .
Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza have also pledged to visit the ABAP training camp in Baguio City to share their training and conditioning drills and techniques with the nationals.
“This can only redound to the benefit of our boxers. We thank Manny and his coaches for their enthusiasm in lending a hand to the team”, said Gregorio.
Boxers Victorio and Rey Saludar, Charly Suarez, products of the Brgy.Una Boxing Program founded by former Davao del Norte congressman Tony Boy Floirendo Jr. in Panabo City (Davao del Norte) before joining the national team, and Delfin Boholst leave on Tuesday for Finland for the prestigious Tammer Cup which has lured 23 participating countries, mostly European.
“We want to be exposed to the European style because some of our opponents in the Asian Games like the Kazakhs and the Uzbeks have similar styles”, according to Picson.
Annie Albania and Wilfredo Lopez will join them in November for the Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China.[pr]
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