Sydney
Olympics
Filipino BoxersVirtual Olympic Games
By JAIME K
PIMENTEL
 Sydney, August 30. THE Bankstown Police - Community Youth Club gym became a truly
Olympic Games boxing arena this week when the Philippine team came face to face with
Ireland's Olympic squad.
The Filipinos, who are doing all their final
sparring at Bankstown, hurled a challenge on learning that the Irish had come to train at
the same gym.
Ireland's team had a featherweight and a
middleweight, so it fell upon the Philippines' Anthony Igusquiza alone to carry the flag
against the Irish.
There is no middleweight in the Philippine
team.
A handful of Filipino and Irish supporters in
a gym crowded with Aussies watched the exciting albeit brief 'Virtual Olympic' spectacle.
 "This is like watching a real bout
at the Olympic games," one spectator remarked under the screaming voices of support.
Igusquiza took the fight to the Irishman. He
went in firing with both barrels, missing some shots but landing most with authority.
The Irishman was no pushover, however. He
countered beautifully, putting Igusquiza off balance on one occasion.
It was an even contest up to less than a
minute before the end of round one, when a barrage from Igusquiza opened a cut on the
Irishman's left eyelid.
Referee Roger Fortaleza stopped the contest to
examine the two-centimetre wound.
Although the Irishman was still full of fight,
his trainer decided against continuing in case the cut grew worse and became a problem so
close to the Olympic Games in just two weeks' time.
The Filipino went a further three rounds with
a top Australian featherweight to complete his sparring session.
Igusquiza was an example of the Philippine
team's much-improved condition after its recent tournaments in Cuba.
 Romeo Brin, Larry Semillano and Ruel Laguna
showed an almost uncharacteristic aggressive style that bodes well for the team's medal
chances at the Games.
Brothers Arlan and Danilo Lerio had a light
workout, and only sparred against each other.
ABAP president and team manager Manny Lopez
took on time-keeping duties in coach Raul Leranza's absence.
Leranza returns from Cuba this week.
Daily training continues at the Western
Suburbs Police-Community Youth Club in Burwood, but all of the team's sparring will be at
Bankstown, where the best opposition boxers train.
 Jaime K. Pimentel is
a Sydney-based journalist and sub-editor with Fairfax Ltd. He has a bachelor's degree in
Journalism from Ateneo and a master's degree in Advertising and Newspaper Management from
Northwestern University (Chicago). He was previously a lecturer in Journalism at San Beda
and UST. Jimmy is also a scriptwriter and producer of Dramatic Philippines.
He loves and practices the sports he writes about. He was a boxing gold medallist during
his Ateneo days, an official of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines as a
referee and judge, and an Ateneo instructor in P.E. (boxing and swimming). In Australia,
he was also an amateur boxing referee. emanila team |
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