ABAP forms elite squad for Olympic gold push

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) has formed a five-boxer squad tasked solely to lead the country's hunt for its first ever Olympic gold medal. The team - led by Charly Suarez (featherweight), brothers Rey and Victor Saludar (flyweight), Asian Indoor Games and Laos Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Annie Albania and junior prospect Mark Anthony Barriga - will follow a special training program to be handled by Barcelona Olympic Games bronze medal winner Roel Velasco. ABAP hopes the extensive training would help the boxers' performance in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China and the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The five boxers will compete in the 1st Manny V. Pangilinan International Friendship Cup slated on July 14-19 in Manila. China, Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Mongolia will be fielding teams in the tournament. The men's will have the 48, 51, 54, 56, 60, 64 and 69-kilogram weight divisions while the women's will dispute the 46, 48, 51, 54 and 57-kg classes. The Philippines will fielding two teams in the tournament. ABAP is choosing either the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) or the Rizal Memorial Coliseum as venue. - JVP, GMANews.TV