Manila (21 March) --- It's all systems go for the 1st SMART/ABAP Visayas Area Boxing Tournament in Oromoc City and Kananga town in Leyte on March 22-27 with Team Bacolod eyeing to dominate the competition.

Bacolod City congressman, who hosted the National Amateur Boxing Championships in Bacolod early this year, said the Team Bacolod will come out in full force to defend the championship.

However, Gov. Raul Daza of Northern Samar, ABAP Region VIII president, cautions everyone that since the competition is being held in his territory, other teams shouldn't be too confident because more boxers will be available from the Samar, Leyte and Biliran provinces.

"Now the homecourt advantage is ours," said Daza.

The tournament is one of the many events lined up by the new ABAP leadership under chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas. It is open to boys from the kids (11 to 12 years old) to the youth category (under 19 years old).

The Leyte competition, Vargas said, "will give our aspiring boxers in the countryside all the opportunities to surface and be recognized and hopefully, be part of the national pool."

Hosts for the Visayas tournament are the brothers Eric Codilla, Mayor of Ormoc, and Elmer Codilla, chief executive of Kananga town.

Both places are progressive, Ormoc being one of the amazing comeback stories after being hit by a devastating flash flood which claimed thousands of lives in 1991. It has since risen to become one of the most important and high-profile cities in Region VIII.