Pacquiao-wannabes answer the bell for ABAP Mindanao meet

MANILA, Philippines - The quest for future Olympic heroes and possibly Manny Pacquiaos continues on May 30-June 3 when at least 400 amateur boxers converge in Pababo City, Davao del Norte for the 2009 Smart-ABAP Mindanao Area Boxing Tournament. Coming on the heels of the Visayas leg (Ormoc and Kananga in Leyte) of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines’ nationwide talent search program, the Mindanao phase will involve clubs representing Regions 9-13 plus the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The tournament is part of the ABAP’s overall effort to land the country’s first gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics. “Mindanao is rich in natural resources, including amateur boxers, and this tournament will surely serve as a fitting venue to showcase their talents," said event host Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Lagdameo. The ABAP is equally optimistic there will be a bountiful harvest of new talents from the Mindanao slugfest. “We know that there are many talents waiting to be discovered there," ABAP executive director Ed Picson said. “We expect a massive turnout from which we expect to select the best boxers." –GMANews.TV