Manny Lopez couldn’t do anything with the present. So he had to dig deep into his bag for the future.

The president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) said he is satisfied with the new names that emerged from the national open earlier this month.

Pedigreed fighters led the notable list, including Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr., Rolando Tacuyan, Roquelito Amonsot and Gerson Nietes.

Peñalosa’s father was a former two-division world champion, while Nietes is the nephew of reigning world minimumweight king Donnie Nietes. Tacuyan and Amonsot’s kin are currently plying the amateur and professional routes, respectively.

“The national coaching staff headed by [Dagoberto Rojas] Scott put into consideration the physical built, mental toughness and the ages of the boxers, particularly in the junior division,’’ Lopez explained.

Scott, one of the two Cuban coaches who were hired by the Abap this year, came up with the names after analysis of the boxers’ performances during the annual slugfest.

Others included in the juniors pool for 15- to 17-year-old fighters were Victorio Saludar Jr., Crisanto Godaren, Aston Palicte, Alton Grijalvo, Wilbert Loberamis, Jay-Ar Inson, Jherits Chavez, Glicerio Catolico Jr., Boy Vicera, Mark John Melligen, Alfred Deano and RJ Ano-os.

According to Lopez, the federation is setting its goals for the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore and, ultimately, the 2012 London Olympics.

“This roster is going to shape the future of Philippine amateur boxing in the next few years,” he added.

While Lopez looked forward to the future, current veterans like Joan Tipon and Godfrey Castro may be part of the long-term plans.

Like Tipon and Castro, fighters like Delfin Boholst and Orlando Tacuyan Jr. have been a disappointment in the international circuit, a reason only one Filipino boxer is in the Beijing Olympics.

Tañamor and other Filipino boxers are still training in Cuba with the other Cuban coach Enrique Tissert.

“Upon their return, the group will immediately go to the national training camp in Baguio City,” said Lopez.

Playing waiting game again

LOS ANGELES—Everything finally bubbles and boils over Monday night in a precursor to the Western Conference finals.

‘Mano-a-mano’ will be remembered for long time

BOSTON—The free throw clanged hard off the front rim and headed for the heavens. With 7.9 seconds remaining and the Cleveland Cavaliers clinging to a final gasp of playoff hope, Paul Pierce wasn’t going to gag away this precious moment, was he?

Manny Lopez couldn’t do anything with the present. So he had to dig deep into his bag for the future.

The president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) said he is satisfied with the new names that emerged from the national open earlier this month.

YOUNG super-flyweight prospect AJ “Bazooka” Banal will get his first crack at a world title when he faces Rafael Concepcion of Panama for the World Boxing Association (WBA) super-flyweight crown.

Angelo Que finished second behind Singaporean Lam Chih-bing in the first leg of the Mercedes-Benz Tour—the Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia—played at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club in Jakarta.

THE door is now open for both local and Filipino-foreign players interested to join the 2008 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft.

THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF) plans to send homegrown players to the birthplace of soccer to prepare for the country’s next big tournament.

Indelible Ink made a big step forward by achieving another milestone in her career as she bagged the first leg of the Triple Crown Championship Series on Sunday at the jam-packed San Lazaro Leisure Park.