Former ABAP Chairman Ricky Vargas, together with ABAP Secretary General Marcus Manalo, has raised serious concerns over officiating at the Southeast Asian Games, citing a “disturbing trend” of home-court decisions favoring Thai boxers.
The concern comes after Filipino fighters Jay Brian Baricuatro and Flint Jara advanced to their respective gold medal matches at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center.
Baricuatro will face Thailand’s Thitiwat Phlongaura in the light flyweight final, while Jara meets Thanarat Saengphet in the bantamweight showdown.
Other Thai boxers already in the final are Thananya Somnuek (women’s light welterweight), Natnicha Chongprongklang (women’s bantamweight), Bunjong Sinsiri (men’s welterweight), Thipsatcha Yodwaree (women’s light flyweight), Apisada Tantawa (women’s lightweight), Sakda Ruamtham (men’s lightweight), and Janjaem Suwannapheng (women’s welterweight).
Vargas described the statistic as highly questionable, noting the disproportionate representation of the host nation in gold medal matches.
(C) POC Media
“That was a good win because we came out aggressive, assertive, and you can see that we really wanted to end the fight early. Those two Filipino men’s boxers, hopefully, will be able to come out well also kasi ang kalaban nila sa finals ay taga-Thailand,” Vargas said in an interview with the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“After this fight here, lahat nang nasa finals ay taga-Thailand. So we really need to do something drastic to be able to get the gold.”
Citing what they called a “disturbing trend,” Vargas and Manalo formally sent a letter to SEA Games organizers demanding an explanation for the officiating in several bouts.
The letter highlighted controversial decisions in matches involving Hergie Bacyadan, two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio, Riza Pasuit, Ian Clark Bautista, Mark Ashley Fajardo, and Junmilardo Ogayre.
In Ogayre’s case, Vargas noted that he lost the opening round despite landing more punches, forcing him to abandon his tactical plan.
Acknowledging the challenge posed by perceived unfairness, Vargas encouraged the Filipino boxers to channel their frustration inside the ring.
“More than irritated. Very, very disappointed. But like I told the boys this morning, itong unfairness, we cannot control. We should stop complaining. We fight in the ring and take this unfairness out. So we just have to be a little bit more aggressive to do more than what we can do and go beyond the unfairness. Napakahirap eh. It’s so difficult to go beyond the unfairness. But again, it depends on them. It’s with them,” he added.
“I’m telling them to go out and be aggressive. There’s a scientific way, but there’s also an aggressive way. You combine both. Go out there and go for the win.”
