In a crucial game against Cambodia in the 2024 ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship, the Philippines opted to field in a different lineup despite riding on the momentum of a breakthrough 1-0 win against Timor Leste in the previous game.
What could have been a winnable game turned out to be a disaster as the boys yielded an early goal, although a questionable one, in the against the Cambodians. The 11th minute strike eventually proved to be the winning score in Surabaya, Indonesia.
The Philippine side had more than enough time to turn the game around but failed to do so in spite of several narrow misses. Maybe because the lads who played well in the game against TImor Leste didn’t start against Cambodia? Or there is indeed that “quota” crap that is supposed to be non-existent but we see otherwise.
Not only a few parents have complained about this “preference” for homegrown talents over players born outside the Philippines. The results speak for themselves. A single win in six games, and most of the losses are lopsided ones. Are we indeed a nation of masochists, using the so-called Filipino resilience whether in the football pitch or in waist deep floodwaters in many parts of the metropolis after heavy rains as an excuse for the incompetence of those elected to serve and improve the lives of our people?
For the meantime, the Philippines has failed again to advance to the knockout stage of another regional youth tournament. The excuses that we heard after another early exit in a tournament were the usual – there is a need to strengthen the youth teams blah-blah and more blah-blah. Just like the excuses made after the U-16 tournament. There are many reasons (and more excuses for sure) and one of them is probably the lack of common sense.
The Designated Kit Man believes that the NSA responsible for sending these youth teams should first clarify their reasons for participating. Do they want to win or do they just want to gain some learning experience at the expense of being laughed at in international competitions? By doing so at least we could also lower our expectations so that we can also manage our disappointments.
Kawawa rin kasi ang mga bata.
In a more noteworthy undertaking, the 17th edition of the Kumong Bol-Anon will happen tomorrow. The stacked fight promotion is doubly meaningful for so many people especially those who love our dear friend Chino Trinidad. Before his untimely passing, Chino was in the thick of preparations, among the many pursuits he has been pushing for the last few weeks, for the boxing event in Bohol following our recent coverage of the Bakbakan sa Masbate 2 in Cataingan. But unlike the harrowing experience in the latter, Kumong Bol-Anon XVII promises to be a major upgrade.
Promoted by Atty. Floriezyl Podot, a member of the family that owns the Philippine Maritime Institute Colleges, the slugfest at the Bohol Wisdom School Gymnasium in Tagbilaran City will have three title fights with at least four supporting bouts. PMI Colleges has three branches in Escolta, Manila; Quezon City and in Tagbilaran City.
“Karamihan kasi ng mga boksingero namin mga taga-Bohol so dito namin ginagawa to give them the venue and the support that they need. Kahit mahirap at challenging to promote fights, nagagawa naman namin as long as may mga taong naniniwala sa amin, kasama na si Chino na todo ang suporta sa Kumong Bol-Anon. Malaki rin ang tulong ng media para sa mga promotions namin,” Podot said.
Topbilling the fight card is John “Valiente” Vitor who will defend his WBO Oriental Super Featherweight title in a 12-rounder against Yeerjialahashi of China. Vitor is a native of Tagbilaran City and is expected to go all out against his Chinese foe in front of his kababayans.
Gerwin Asilo, another local pride from Alicia, Bohol will tussle with Surat Eaim Ong from Bangkok, Thailand for the WBO Oriental Bantamweight crown in 10 rounds.
Rounding off the title bouts will be the encounter between Althea Shine Pores of Claveria, Misamis Oriental against Maria Theresa Pinili for the Philippine Female Junior Flyweight title.
“Ang target namin palagi is to surpass the success of the previous editions of Kumong Bol-Anon. Pero ang talagang gusto namin ay makapag-produce ng world champion na taga Bohol. Muntik na dati kasi may boxer kami na napalaban sa title fight pero hindi sinuwerte. We are praying so hard that we will have our world champion within the next three to five years,” Podot said.
Podot also shared that boxing remains to be a popular sport among his provincemates. Even students at their family-owned educational institution take up boxing during their free time to relax and stay healthy.
Boxing remains one of the sports that Filipinos really excel on a consistent basis. We have produced so many world champions in the past and more in the future as long as promoters such as Podot continue to produce fights, even if these are happening outside Metro Manila. Talents are not exclusive to the metropolis alone, and just like football, the country should always strive to send the best possible players or boxers that are available.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
