Pinoy boxers aasinta ng 3 pang Olympic slots

GUANGZHOU, China--Makaraan ang maikli ngunit mahirap na biyahe patungo sa lungsod na ito, naghahanda na ang RP Alaxan FR Boxing team para sa China Unicorn, ang ikalawang Asian Olympic qualifying tournament para sa Athens Olympic kung saan tatlo pang puwesto ang asinta nila para sa August quadrennial games.

Nananabik na sina light flyweight Harry Tana-mor, bantamweight Ferdie Gamo, featherweight Ruel Laguna at welterweight Genebert Basadre sa kanilang pakikipagsagupa para sa kampanya ng bansa sa kauna-unahang Olympic gold medal.

Umaasang makakasama ang mga kababayang sina Violito Payla, Romeo Brin at Christopher Camat sa hangarin ng ABAP, ang apat na boksingero ay inaasahang makakapasa sa medical examinations at official weigh-in sa napa-kalaking Phoenix Hotel kung saan gaganapin ang draw.

"This is it. The boys are in high spirits and are raring to give our country more honors as well as more chances for its first gold medal in the Olym-pics. They are all saddled up and are just waiting for the competitions to start," ani ABAP president Manny T. Lopez, na siya ring Federation of Asian Amateur Boxing (FAAB) secretary-general at miyembro ng 15-man jury dito.

"The boys are high in morale and are upbeat on their chances. And al-though our coaches -- George Caliwan and Boy Velasco -- are weary of the boxers from the former members of the USSR as well as those from South and North Koreas and Thailand, I am optimistic that our boxers will do good here. As I have said before, these boxers have got what it takes to be in the Olympics," dagdag ni Lopez.

Ang team na kinabibi-langan ni referee/judge Jesus San Esteban, ay maagang nagsanay sa ilalim ng suporta ng Alaxan Fast Relief, Pacific Heights, Accel at Philippine Sports Commission.