UMAASA si Pinoy boxer Hergie Bacyadan na makalapit sa pagkopo ng isang puwesto sa Paris Olympics sa pagsagupa kay Veronika Nakota ng Hungary sa women’s 75 kg category ngayong Sabado, June 1, sa ikalawang World Olympic Qualifying Tournament sa Hua Mak Indoor Stadium sa Bangkok, Thailand.
Si Nakota, na orihinal na lumaban para sa Ukraine subalit lumipat sa Hungary kasunod ng Russian invasion, ang Youth World Champion noong 2022.
“Obviously she’s a very talented boxer,” sabi ni Marcus Manalo, secretary-general ng Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).
“Because of the war, she decided to move to Hungary to continue her training and since then has been competing for that country.”
Si Bacyadan ay galing sa impresibong 5-0 panalo kontra Dunia Mas Martinez ng Spain.
Inilatag ni National coach Ronald Chavez ang basic fight plan ni Bacyadan.
“Kailangan lang mag-busy ang pang-jab niya para makahanap ng opening bago niya bitawan ang straight niya, at dapat masaktan niya kaagad para mag-alangan nang pumasok,” sabi ni Chavez.
“Pero kapag hindi naman ininda ang mga patama ni Hergie, dadaanin niya sa hit and move.”
Aminado si Manalo na magiging mabigat ang laban ni Bacyadan.
“Nothing’s easy here since everyone’s desperate to qualify. Hergie’s opponent is a former Youth World Champion so she has the skills for sure,” anang ABAP official.
“Hergie needs to be really disciplined and stick to the fight plan and what worked for her in the previous bout which was to get to her range and set up her powerful attacks.”
Samantala, hanggang press time ay lumalaban si Carlo Paalam sa quarterfinals kontra Jose Luis De Los Santos Feliz ng Dominican Republic.
CLYDE MARIANO
