Team Caltex vies in int’l boxing events

A six-man Team Caltex Philippines will compete in two international tournaments in Europe as part of the selection process of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines for the forthcoming Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

ABAP president Manny Lopez said the six players will compete in the Gee Bee International Amateur Boxing Championships in Helsinki, Finland April 5-7 and in the Socikas International Amateur Boxing Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania April 10-14.

The participants are Harry Tanamor (lightflyweight), Violito Payla (flyweight), Vincent Palicte (bantamweight), Roel Laguna (featherweight), Anthony Iguisquiza (lightweight) and Romeo Brin (lightfeatherweight).

They will be accompanied by Nolito Velasco (head coach), Patricio Gaspi (assistant coach) and Renato Fortaleza (referee/judge). Lopez is head of delegation.

Lopez said the team is part of the 34-member national pool from which the national team will be chosen for the Asian Games in September.

Two other teams are scheduled to compete in international tournaments in Bangkok, Thailand and in Havana, Cuba also in April.

The nationals’ foreign participation is bankrolled by Caltex Philippines with support from the Philippine Sports Commission, Pacific Heights, Revicon and Adidas.

"These tournaments are part of our intensive training program leading to the Busian Asian Games," said Lopez. "We thank Caltex Philippines for its continuing commitment to our program as well as to other patrons who are giving their support to these foreign trips."