Boxers first batch of RP athletes to arrive in Athens

The national boxers will be the first Filipino athletes to set foot in Athens, Greece, for the 28th Olympic Games next month.

Led by welterweight Romeo Brin, a veteran of the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics, the four-man team will arrive in the ancient, historic city on Aug. 5 hoping to clear the path for the 12 other RP bets who will all try to give the country its first gold medal in the quadrennial event.

The other boxers are lightly Harry Tanamor, lightly Violito Payla and middleweight Chris Camat. They’ll be coming in straight from a month-long training in Europe that brought them to countries like Bulgaria and France. Also with the team are coaches George Caliwan, Boy Velasco and Pat Gaspi, and boxing chief Manny Lopez.

Great expectations are once again with the boxers. Only boxing has won medals for the Philippines since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when Anthony Villanueva took the silver. Leopoldo Serrantes nailed the bronze in 1988 in Seoul, Roel Velasco another bronze in 1992 in Barcelona and Mansueto Velasco a second silver in 1996 in Atlanta.

Checking on Aug. 6 are swimmer Timmy Chua along with swimming officials Chito Rivera and Anthony Lozada, archer Jasmine Figueroa with coach Henry Manalang, and shooter Jethro Dionisio with coach Ramon Coral. With them are chief of mission Steve Hontiveros, administrative officer Boying Santos-Viola and media officer Gus Villanueva.

On Aug. 8, it’s the turn of swimmers Miguel Moline and Miguel Mendoza who’ll be flying in from the US, and tricksters Lerma Bulauitan Gabito and Eduardo Buenavista who’ll be coming from Manila. Fil-American swimmers Jaclyn Pangilinan and JB Walsh will hit Athens on Aug. 10 and 11, respectively.

Leaving Manila on Aug. 9 is finance officer Benjie Ramos to be followed on the 11th by medical officer Dr. Raul Canlas, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Celso Dayrit and secretary-general Romeo Ribano. The two POC officials, however, will be in Athens as official members of the Olympic family.

Planing in on Aug. 15 or two days after the opening ceremonies are taekwondo jinns Marie Antoinette Rivero, Tshomlee Go and Donald Geisler along with officials Jesus Morales III and Tae Kun Kim. — Abac Cordero