Editor's note: As part of our coverage of the 2018 Asian Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from August 18 to September 2, we will be previewing the different national teams that will see action for the Philippines.
2014 Asian Games performance
The Filipino pugs brought home four medals from the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Lightweight Charly Suarez led the fight for the Philippines with a silver medal while Mark Anthony Barriga (light flyweight), Mario Fernandez (bantamweight), and Wilfredo Lopez (middleweight) took home bronze medals.
Dennis Galvan (light welterweight) dropped out in the Round of 32, Ian Clark Bautista (flyweight) fell in the Round of 16, and female boxers Josie Gabuco (flyweight) and Nesthy Petecio (lightweight) lost in the quarterfinals.
2018 Asian Games representatives
Joel Bacho - Welterweight
Mario Fernandez - Bantamweight
Rogen Ladon - Flyweight
Eumir Felix Marcial - Middleweight
Carlo Paalam - Light Flyweight
James Palicte - Lightweight
Nesthy Petecio - Featherweight
Irish Magno - Flyweight
Background
As usual, many Filipinos are expecting the boxers to come home with medals from the Asian Games. The country has not tasted a gold since Rey Saludar's spirited effort in the flyweight division back in 2010 and many are hoping the drought will end in Jakarta.
"This has been one of the more active campaigns we've had in preparation for the Asian Games," said Ed Picson, Executive Director of the Amateur Boxers Association of the Philippines, in an interview at the Main Media Center in Jakarta, Indonesia. "I would like to emphasize the help of the Philippine Sports Commission and the MVP Sports Foundation which allowed our boxers to go to different training camps and join international competitions. We gave them everything they needed in terms of training, competition, equipment, and uniforms. They are very appreciative and they know they have a mission here and they're ready to accomplish it."
Prognosis for Jakarta
Our boxers are all potential medalists in the Asian Games, according to Picson.
"We were allowed to send up to 10 boxers but we decided to bring only eight. Mr. Ricky Vargas, who is the President of boxing (ABAP) although he is more known now as the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) President, told me that we cannot send boxers to the Asian Games for exposure. We will only send boxers who can win. We can give boxers exposure somewhere else like in pocket tournaments and invitationals but not in the Asian Games. We went these eight because we feel have a chance at a podium finish."
Picson is hopeful about the chances of three boxers in particular.
"Eumir is a marked man. He's known all over the world because every boxer that he has ever faced as felt his power," said Picson. "Carlo Paalam was a virtual unknown before but that has changed but in the reports that have come out in the Asian Games, he's number 1 in the list of boxers to watch in the 49-kilogram category He has beaten some good fighters this year and I think won two gold medals in Thailand and Russia. Nesthy has won four gold medals this year alone in Thailand, Poland, India, and Russia. Those three have been doing well."
However, Picson remained confident that the other boxers can also deliver.
"Mario Fernandez was a bronze medalist in Korea, Rogen Ladon was our Olympian in Rio two years ago, Joel Bacho two years ago beat a highly-touted Cuban and he has been doing well in training sessions, Irish Magno was a bronze medalist in the Southeast Asian Games and has also performed well recently," ABAP's Executive Director continued.
Picson, however, refused to estimate a medal haul from his team.
"I think it's foolhardy to do that because there are so many factors, especially the draw, which will happen Thursday," he said. "But I'm confident in the chances of all eight boxers. I thought we had a good lineup in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games but I think this is better."