The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) will stick it out with its all-Filipino coaching staff as the country revs up for the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 Olympics.

“I feel that the Cubans gave the fighters technical knowledge but there was a language problem. This will be an opportunity for the Filipino coaches to prove themselves,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson during Tuesday’s session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the ground floor of the PSC Building.

“At least for the meantime, we will use Filipino coaches,” said Picson, who remains confident that homegrown coaches are more than competent enough to take the job that was left by Cubans Enrique Steyners and Dagoberto Scott.

The coaching staff is beefed up by former national team members Pat Gaspi and Ronald Chavez, who have vowed to sharpen the craft of their fighters in time for the Asian Games scheduled November 12 to 27 in Guangzhou, China.

Picson said the ABAP is not only keen in sending its fighters to several overseas tournaments but letting its coaches undergo similar stints under experts from Eastern Europe, where amateur boxing has also flourished.

In preparation for the Asian Games, Picson said at least four tournaments abroad are being looked at not to mention the staging of the MVP Cup to celebrate ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan’s birthday in July.

So far, there are two events that the Philippines is taking part this year, one in Beijing in February and another one in April in Azerbaijan.

In 2011, the preparation is expected to reach high gear with the holding of pre-Olympic qualifying meets for the London Games.