ABAP at PSC nilinaw ang lagay ni Marcial sa PHL team

Nilinaw ng Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) na buo pa rin ang suportang

matatanggap ni national boxer Eumir Felix Marcial mula sa Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) bilang paghahanda nito sa Tokyo Olympics sa 2021.

Patuloy pa ring makukuha ng 24-anyos na Lunzuran, Zamboanga-native ang kanyang buwanang allowance dahil parte pa rin ito ng Olympic Program ng PSC, kahit na napapabalitang aakyat na ito ng Professional boxing.

Ayon kay ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson, deretso pa rin ang tinatahak na landas ng Asia-Oceania Boxing Qualification Tournament gold medalist para sa paghahanda sa Summer Games, kung saan isa si Marcial, kasama ang mga Tokyo-bound na sina Ernest Obiena ng pole vault, Caloy Yulo ng gymnastics at Irish Magno ng women’s boxing, sa mga inaasahang mag-uuwi ng kauna-unahang gintong medalya sa bansa.

“As far as we’re [ABAP] concerned, Marcial will fight in the Olympics,” wika ni Picson sa panayam ng BULGAR sa text messages. Payak naman ang naging kasagutan nito hinggil sa pananatili ng monthly allowance ng three-time Southeast Asian Games champion; “Yes of course.”

Nitong lang nakalipas na Sabado ay naglabas ng pahayag ang matagal ng kasintahan ni Marcial hinggil sa lumabas na balita na mawawalan umano ng suporta mula sa ABAP at PSC ang 2019 World championship silver medal winner.

“It seems to us that they are withdrawing the supposed support they did promised to Eumir to help him better prepare and hopefully, secure a medal in the hopes of bringing pride and honor to the country. Their statements are contradictory as opposed to what they told Eumir ensuring that he needs not to worry of their support. Their statements yet now appears questionable,” pahayag ni Princess Galarpe sa kanyang post sa kanyang social media. “Now, if the ABAP and PSC decides to withhold Eumir from his monetary allowance and respective incentives then who will actually support him on his way to clinch a possible medal in the Olympics? When in fact, it is the flag of the Philippines he will be carrying and representing.”

Siniguro naman ni PSC deputy executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy na magpapatuloy ang natatanggap na tulong at suporta ni Marcial sa PSC, habang walang dapat ipag-alala ito sa kanyang preparasyon sa Olympic Games.

“[For the Olympic preparation] He’s still in the payroll and the Olympic program of PSC. The Board has not stop any assistance to Marcial and other Olympic bound Athletes including for those who are still on qualifying,” eksplika ni Iroy mula sa online interview rito. “Going to the Olympics all are supported by the PSC including Marcial, as to allowances the deduction is temporary, the PSC is supporting his preparation for the Olympic Games,” dagdag nito.

Idinagdag rin ni Iroy na walang kinalaman ang ahensya ng pampalakasan sa pangarap ni Marcial na mag-Pro, dahil tanging sa ABAP lamang ito may isyu.

Nanatili namang walang karagdagang reaksyon si Picson hinggil sa isyu at piniling manahimik na lamang hanggang may pinal ng pag-uusap sa panig ng ABAP at ni Marcial. “Other than that I have no further comment.”