Ex-chief sees bright prospects for RP pugs

"We're right on track to the First Olympic Gold Medal."

Elated over the results of the latest pre-qualifying fights of the Olympic-bound Team Caltex Philippines, former PSC chair and Manila Mayor Mel Lopez Jr. airs such optimism while overseeing the training of the team at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Lopez credits the team's successes to the new boxing training program of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

"All physical, technical, tactical and psychological possibilities of the boxers are demonstrated here as in any other combat sports like fencing, judo and wrestling. Here, the athlete cannot achieve victory without going over a complex and diverse technical and tactical preparation," explains Lopez.

The team includes boxers Danny Lerio (51 kgs.), Romeo Brin (63.5 kgs), Larry Semillano (60 kgs) and Arlan Lerio (58 kgs); and ABAP (Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines) coaching staff composed of Boy Velasco, George Caliwan and Pat Gaspi and Cuban head coach Raul Liranza Fernandez.

"Training emphasis here is on footwork and upward movement because Filipino boxers are usually shorter than their opponents," said Lopez, adding that the target of the new training program is to develop and maximize power (speed power and resistance to power) and endurance of the boxers.

Lopez was executive committee member of the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and former ABAP president. The Manila Integrated Sports Council (MISCO) during his early days as Manila Mayor, trained the Velasco brothers (Roel Velasco, Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist, and Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco, Atlanta Olympic silver medalist) and produced boxing hero Roberto Jalnaiz (lone Beijing Asiad gold medalist).

Through his efforts, top sportsmen-businessmen gave cash rewards of P1 million each to Seoul Olympics (boxing) bronze medalist Leopoldo Serrantes and Bowling (demonstration only) gold medalist Arianne Cerdena.

"The boxers and other athletes are doing their best to bring honor and glory to the country and I believe that our friends and benefactors will be as supportive to our athletes," says Lopez.