Chief of mission Julian Camacho confirmed Tuesday that both boxers were excluded in the final roster submitted by the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines.
Suarez, a silver medalist in the Incheon Asian Games, and 2012 London Olympian Barriga are under contract with the Aiba Pro Boxing tournament whose schedule is in conflict with the June 5 to 16 SEA Games playdate.
“It’s final, they’re not in the lineup,” said Camacho. “They are sure contenders for the gold, but there’s nothing we can do.”
Taking up the cudgels for the pugs are bantamweight Mario Fernandez, middleweight Wilfredo Lopez, lightweight Junel Cantancio, Eumir Felix Marcial, Rogen Ladon and Ian Clark Bautista.
Defending SEA Games champion Josie Gabuco heads the women’s cast that also includes Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno and Riza Pasuit.
The Philippines captured three golds in the 2013 Burma (Myanmar) Games courtesy of Barriga, Fernandez and Gabuco while Lopez, Cantancio and Petecio settled for silver medals.
Abap allowed Barriga, a light fly, and the lightweight Suarez to trade mitts in the APB where two slots for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for each weight category are at stake.
Source: Inquirer.net/ June Navarro
Image: zimbio.com
