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NAKHON
RATCHASIMA—What many feared would happen happened in one
of the sports the hosts would die for.
Except
for Annie Albania who won by knockout, two others on the
women’s boxing team—two-time Asian champion Mitchel
Martinez and Alice Kate Aparri—were beaten in
Wednesday’s finals.
And
everyone on Team
Philippines
pointed to biased scoring in the event staged at the
Tumbon, Mueangpug Gymnasium.
“This is
a mockery of the sport. Bastusan na ito,” said
Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP)
president Manny Lopez. “Kung hindi pa sa
knockout, hindi tayo mananalo.”
Albania
knocked out Thai Hansa Kadeewong in the first round of
the flyweight finals. Her two teammates, though, were
beaten in controversial fashion.
Cruz
yielded to Usanakorn Thawinsuwanahang in the
light-bantamweight class, 18-8, and Martinez lost her
lightweight duel with Sumittra Ngoksungnoen, 21-11.
“They
should not dishonor us by giving one-sided decisions. I
would not like to be a part of this comic in
Thailand,”
Lopez said.
Lopez
and the RP coaching staff led by Nolito Velasco
immediately met early last night to prepare for the
men’s finals where seven Filipinos are entered. The
Thais have a boxer in each of the 17 men’s and women’s
weight categories.
Merry
Christmas in the offing
Malacañang has promised to give Filipino medal winners
in the 24th Southeast Asian Games extra bonuses on top
of the incentives they are mandated to receive from the
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Surprisingly, it was Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)
president Jose Cojuangco Jr. who broke the good news,
and not from officials of the PSC, the government sports
arm. PSC chairman William Ramirez is due to arrive
Thursday here.
“I have
been informed by Malacañang that President Arroyo will
give all of our Southeast Asian Games medalists bonuses,
regardless whether they win the gold, silver or bronze,”
said Cojuangco.
The PSC
rewards medal winners in international competitions with
cash. In the SEA Games, a gold medalist in individual
events gets P100,000 each, silver medalists P50,000 and
bronze medalists P10,000.
The
Asian Games or Asian championships and the Olympics or
World Championships command more incentives from the PSC. |
