Nesthy Petecio has adjusted her training schemes in accordance with the wishes of her three new coaches.
The 31-year-old Petecio said this as she gets ready to compete in the 57-kg action of the women’s events of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games boxing competitions in Cambodia.
Petecio, along with fellow Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam and a 12-member squad will plunge into action when matches are held from May 6 to 14 at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center.
She has lost weight after settling for the silver medal in the 60-kg category in the Vietnam SEA Games last year.
“Unti-unti na pong bumabalik ang power ko sa laro. Kasi, after the Olympics, nagpahinga po ako. In-enjoy ko lang po iyung sa Olympics, “ said the 5’2” Petecio.
The Davao del Sur-born Petecio made history when she became the first female boxer from the Philippines to bag a silver medal in the Olympics. She is now coached by fellow boxer Rogin Ladon, Mitchell Martinez and Reynaldo Galido.
The three took over after her former mentor Nolito “Boy” Velasco retired after the Olympics in 2020.
Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines secretary general Marcus Manalo said they hope to match or surpass what the team did in the previous edition of the games last year in Hanoi, Vietnam, where the team claimed three golds, one silver and five bronze medals.
Mark Lester Durens (48kg), Ladon (51kg), Ian Clark Bautista (57kg), Paul Julyfer Bascon (60kg), James Palicte (63.5 kg), Norlan Petecio (67kg), John Nobel Marvin (80kg) and Markus Cezar Tongco (92kg) will make up the men’s team.
Tokyo Olympian Irish Magno (54kg) and Riza Pasuit (63kg) are listed in the women’s side.
The men’s team is training in Kazakhstan, while the women’s squad is preparing in a high-altitude camp in Baguio City.
Manalo said that Kevin Smith, a former consultant who worked with the PH team’s Australian coach Don Abnett in Boxing Australia before, has come aboard.
Smith is also helping out the Saudi Arabia team, which is now in Baguio for a training camp.