VELASCO LEADS RP BOXING TEAM TO ASIAN GAMES
Manila, Oct. 30, 1998 - The Amateur Boxing Association announced that World Championship light flyweight silver medallist and Goodwill Games bronze winner Roel Velasco will lead the seven-man Philippine team to the coming Bangkok Asian Games.
The team will leave for Cuba soon to finalize its training for the December Asiad. Composition of the team was decided after a lengthy deliberation among Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines coaching staff and officials led by ABAP president Manny T. Lopez.
Also in the delegation are flyweight Arlan Lerio, featherweight Rico Moreno, bantamweight Eric Canoy, lightweight Joel Barriga, light welterweight Reynaldo Galido and welterweight Romeo Brin.
Lopez said that the choice of the boxers was based on four qualities - the boxers' performance for the year, the ability to win the gold medal, their general character and profile of the opposition.
"Modesty aside, this is a very strong team and I will not be surprised if all seven of them win medals. And just in case, we have also selected a second team whose members will serve as alternates or replacements for those in the Asiad team in case of injury or any other matter which would bar a boxer from the Asian Games," Lopez said.
But the venue of the Asiad and the reputation of the referees in Thailand worry Lopez.
"You know, we are playing in Thailand where hometown decisions have been the problem of our boxers time and again. Also, the opposition from the other countries, particularly the former Russian satellites, South Korea, Japan and even China, have good boxers.
Lopez also bared that the team will leave for Cuba and will train under Cuban coach Raul Fernandez Liranza, the same coach who helped prepare Mansueto Velasco Jr. for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, starting November 6 and will go straight to Bangkok, Thailand on December 6 with Fernandez.
The second team which will continue their training in Baguio City is composed of light flyweight Efren Desierto, flyweight Randy Paspie, Vicera, bantamweight Elmer Pamisa, lightweight Ramil Zambales, light welterweights Anthony Igusquiza and Larry Semillano and welterweights Jessie Flores and Junie Tizon.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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