RP BOXERS LEAVE FOR CUBAN TRAINING
Manila, Nov. 6, 1998 - The Filipino boxing team to the Bangkok Asian Games, headed by World Championship light flyweight silver medallist Roel Velasco, will leave at 7 tonight for Havana, Cuba to cap their training and preparations for the Asiad where they are the reigning overall champions in boxing.
Cuban coach Jose Raoul Liranza's contract to handle the national boxers becomes effective as soon as the Filipinos arrive in Cuba. Liranza, regarded as an instrumental figure in the vast improvement of Filipino boxers, has been hired by the Philippine Sports Commission to the tune of $2,500 dollars a month for one year.
>>From Havana, the boxers and Liranza will proceed directly to Bangkok in >>time for the Asiad set Dec. 6-20.
Also with the team being supported by Caltex Philippines are flyweight Arlan Lerio, bantam Rico Moreno, lightweight Joel Barriga, light welter Reynaldo Galido, welter Romeo Brin and featherweight Eric Canoy.
Caltex Philippines' sponsorship of Filipino boxers is likely to continue even after the Bangkok Asian Games this December. It's likely to extend up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This is a result of the Pinoy boxers' successful stints in international competitions since the giant oil firm took them into its fold in August.
To date the 24-man Team Caltex Philippines has produced seven gold medals in four prestigious tournaments, making the Filipino boxers among the favorites in the quadrennial Asiad.
Caltex spent more than P5 million in its commitment to the boxers, shouldering their campaign in the Asian Youth Championships in Taiwan, the Goodwill Games in New York, the 6th Karl Leman International Championships in Estonia, the 20th Tammer Cup in Finland and the 2nd Greenhill Cup in Pakistan.
The Abap is asking for nearly the same amount yearly to boost the Philippines' quest for that elusive Olympic gold in Sydney.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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