Asiad gold new target for Franco

MANILA, Philippines - It took three Southeast Asian Games before Ramon (Nino) Franco Jr. claimed a karate gold medal in the 55 kilogram class of kumite. Perseverance paid off as Franco, 28, downed Indonesia’s Iman Tauhid Ragananda, 6-2, Vietnam’s Nguyen Phi Tuan, 6-2, and Brunei’s Muhammad Fada’iy Sanif, 8-6, in that order to hit paydirt in Myanmar recently.

Franco’s collection started with a bronze in 2007 then a silver in the team event in 2011. Now, his sights are set on the Asian Games in Incheon on Sept. 19 – Oct. 4. Franco hopes to represent the country in his first Asiad. He missed out on the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou after fracturing his right hand during the Okazaki Cup at the Philsports Complex and went on a one-year hiatus.

Franco said he’s ready to compete at the next level. He trained 2 1/2 months in Tehran with Iranian coach Ali Parvinfar before the SEA Games and the experience was a huge shot in the arm. “We worked on technique, balance, timing and distance,” said Franco. “We were in the gym for about two hours every day, doing drills, sparring. We also competed in a tournament where I finished with a silver medal. Training abroad is a big help. I remember training in Italy before. My idol in karate is my dad (international referee Ramon Sr.) who taught me the basics when I was a boy.”

Franco said he will report back to the Philippine Sports Commission next week after spending the holidays helping to rehabilitate the family’s three-bedroom bungalow in Tacloban. “We’ll resume training,” he said. “I still don’t know what the plans are for training and competing before the Asian Games. Maybe, we’ll participate in the next Southeast Asian Karate-do Federation Championships in March or April.”

Focus is what keeps Franco on track. He was in Tehran training for the SEA Games when Yolanda struck Tacloban and while the news was disturbing, he stayed the course. “For me, karate is like chess which I play with my mom and dad,” he said. “It’s a lot of strategy and tactics. My experience gives me an edge. I watch videos of my opponents fighting so I know what to expect when we face off. I do my homework in scouting. My coach (Parvinfar) calls me a gamer because I like to compete whether in karate or chess or video games. Since my first SEA Games, I’ve competed only in the 55 kilogram class. I haven’t put on weight. I try to be disciplined with what I eat. My usual training involves jogging five kilometers for about 20 minutes and working out in the gym thrice a week, two hours at a time. When there’s a competition coming up, I do twice a day practices.”

Franco’s father, a PSC coach the last two years, said there are six secrets to success in karate----attitude, vigorous application of technique, “zanchin” or being always on guard, speed with power, distance and timing.  â€œIn kumite, the intent is never to hurt,” he said. “Contact is not necessary. You score even if your hand or foot is just a fraction of an inch away from your target. Scoring is sometimes subjective like in boxing. What makes all the difference is technique.” He said his son’s height of 5-5 is perfect for a fighter in the 55 kilogram category.

Franco said flexibility is a key element, too. “Karate’s not an easy sport,” he said. “You use your hands and feet. A lot of strategy is involved like in chess.” A criminology graduate of the Holy Spirit College Foundation of Leyte, Franco is the only athlete among four children. The oldest Rosary Ann, 32, is employed by Western Union. Another sister Risa Mona, 30, is a housewife and the youngest Rafael Mark Alfonso, 20, is graduating from nursing. Even Franco was a reluctant karatista who had to be bribed P10 or P20 of extra allowance to work out in the gym by his father as a boy.

Franco said he has no immediate plans of getting married to his girlfriend of seven years Stephanie Oberos who works for an insurance company in Bacolod. “Right now, my focus is to win more medals for our country,” he said. “In Myanmar, I didn’t think of the incentive. All I wanted to do was to give a good showing, win or lose. In the last Southeast Asian Karate-do Federation Championships, I got a bronze, Malaysia a gold and Myanmar a silver so I knew the competition would be tough in the SEA Games. In the finals, I went up early by five points but my opponent came back. In the end, my winning margin was only two points so my opponent could’ve still won in the last second with a kick to the head which is good for three points.”

Franco said now more than ever, he’s determined to strike gold in Incheon. “In Tacloban, our slogan is no surrender,” he said. “We’ll never give up. It’s the same attitude I’ll bring to the Asian Games if I qualify to compete. It will take a lot of perseverance, dedication and discipline to succeed in Incheon. I hope to be ready for the challenge.”