Boxing guru Hermie Rivera is turning 72 on April 17 and itching to add something new to his collection of ring-related accolades. He’s widely known in fistic circles, here and abroad, as the genius who guided Luisito Espinosa and Morris East to world championships. Now, Rivera wants to deliver the country’s first Olympic gold medal and his prospect is Fil-Am middleweight Julian Santos Chua.
Obviously, Rivera’s far from thinking retirement – nobody dares to even suggest it because he just gets wiser as the years go by. He’s serious about putting out a no-holds-barred, all-secrets-revealed book on Manny Pacquiao and that project is just one of the things that keeps him busy. Another project is to develop Chua into an Olympic sensation with a little help from Freddie Roach.
Rivera, who is now based in Newark, California, says the 5-9 Chua could be the man to bring home the bacon from the 2012 London Olympics.
Of course, the road to London is long, winding and rocky. Chua, 18, must qualify to represent the Philippines before even hoping to survive the two Asian eliminations and the World Championships that will select the Olympic fighters.
According to Rivera, the first step is to bring Chua to Manila and show his wares at the MVP Cup set to open July 14. If Chua impresses, the doors will surely open wide for supporters to bankroll his bid for an Olympic ticket.
Rivera is booked to fly in on his birthday and will stay in town until May 15.
“I heard about the MVP Cup,” said Rivera in an e-mail the other day. “Maybe, that could be Julian’s coming out party. I’m seriously considering to enter Julian in the tournament. It would be a good test for Julian and his debut in the Philippines. I hope the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines gives him a chance to prove himself.”
Last year, Chua won the Indiana State Golden Gloves championship. When Manny Pacquiao was training for Joshua Clottey, Chua visited the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood and met the Filipino icon who encouraged him to bring honor to the country. He was also introduced to Roach who agreed to help in his quest for the Olympic gold.
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PBA legend Jerry Codiñera’s basketball camp is now going on at the Palms Country Club. He started with the first batch of campers last Monday.
“It’s my way of giving back after enjoying a long career as a player,” said the 6-6 star who played in 17 PBA seasons. “Now, my goal is to share my knowledge of the game with anyone who wants to learn how to play and improve. The camp is my vehicle to reach out and make a difference in shaping the future of basketball in our country.”
Codiñera will bring in a second batch on April 26. Beginners and advanced players from 7 to 21 are welcome to enlist. Each batch will undergo eight, three-hour afternoon sessions with Codiñera and his assistants, including former PBA stars. For details, call the Palms at Tel. 771-7171 (locals 307 and 308) or cellfone 0927-3061167.
By the way, Codiñera’s daughter Matisse, who stands 5-7 and is only 12, is a volleyball player and will suit up for the National Capital Region (NCR) at the Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac starting April 11.
“We’re so proud of her,” said Codiñera’s wife Jean. “We’ll be in Tarlac cheering for Matisse and her teammates. She loves volleyball and is quite good at it. She belongs to the team that will represent NCR. Matisse is from Parañaque and plays with teammates from Makati, Valenzuela, Marikina and Las Piñas under coach Rey Amonela from the Colegio de San Agustin. Matisse took after her grandmother Betty Codiñera, who is six-foot tall and used to play volleyball for UST way back when she studied nursing.”
Jerry and Jean have been together now for almost 18 years, blessed with two children, Matisse and Manu, 9. She has three children from a previous relationship – Celine, 25, Kitin, 19, and Nikki, 18 whom Jerry loves as his own.
“We’re a funny unit during the UAAP season because Kitin is studying at Ateneo, Nikki at La Salle, Jerry is from UE and is an assistant coach with UP, Harmon (Jerry’s brother) is from FEU and Papa Boy from UST and Adamson,” said Jean. “NU na lang ang kulang!”
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Broadcaster Chino Trinidad said with his exit from the PBL as commissioner after a tenure of 10 years, he faces “uncertain times.”
“But I know that following my parents’ advice to continue working passionately and doing my best, I’ll be able to make a difference in whatever I do,” said the 42-year-old Trinidad. “I owe it to my parents, Recah and Fe, my wife Babette and our three children, Florian, Florenz and Florisse to be the best I can be for my family and our country.”
Trinidad, a corps commander at St. John’s Academy before he enrolled at UP and later earned a zoology degree at UE, said he’s looking forward to the next chapter in his life – a chapter that will bring his passion from basketball to boxing.
Trinidad said as a broadcaster, his role model is Mike Enriquez. Perhaps, it was destiny that brought Trinidad and Enriquez together in the GMA network.