Piñol’s vision for Olympic gold

North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol has always been known for his fighting heart. He’s a never-say-die crusader for noble causes.

As a sports enthusiast, one of Gov’s dreams is for the country to capture its first Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. And he’s moving mountains to make it happen through boxing.

Not that Gov is undermining efforts of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) whose president Manny Lopez is also at the forefront of his own mission to hit paydirt in Beijing. Gov says his crusade runs parallel with Manny’s.

It doesn’t really matter who gets the credit. What’s important is capturing that elusive Olympic gold medal. Whoever is able to show the way–Gov or Lopez–will only be too happy to share the glory with every Filipino in the archipelago.

As a start, Gov sought out a supervisor for his boxing program. He looked for a Cuban coach and went to Havana last March.

Boxing coaches are among Cuba’s hottest exports. Cuba has made an art form out of developing boxing champions. In 12 Olympics, Cuba has produced 32 gold, 12 silver and eight bronze medalists in boxing. If there’s any country that knows how to strike gold in Olympic boxing, it’s Cuba.

Thailand, for instance, has already produced three Olympic gold medalists in boxing and Cuban coach Juan Fontanills was responsible for getting it done. When Onyok Velasco took the silver for the Philippines at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Cuban coach Raul Liranza worked his corner.

In Havana, Gov found Honorato Espinosa and persuaded the 67-year-old maestro to spearhead the search for the country’s first Olympic gold medalist. Espinosa is clearly the right man for the job. He learned his craft from Cuba’s boxing mastermind Dr. Alcides Sagarra and coached bantamweight Orlando Martinez to the Olympic gold at the 1972 Munich Games. Martinez, Emilio Correa and Teofilo Stevenson were all Munich Olympians and the first Cuban Olympic gold medalists in boxing.

Gov said the search process started when he called on Cuban Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Rey Jimenez. It was Jimenez who referred Piñol to the Cuban Department of Sports.

Gov met with Dr. Sagarra in the Cuban capital and asked for a coach who is more a tactician than a drillmaster. Three names were suggested and Gov zeroed in on Espinosa because he taught Liranza and Fontanills what they know as coaches. Within a week, Gov came to terms with the Cuban government and Espinosa.

"My opinion is Liranza is a conditioning coach," said Gov. "I wanted a coach who could teach basic techniques, strategies and style not just how to be in shape."

Espinosa is now in Kidapawan as Gov’s guest. He’s in charge of training a Mindanao all-star squad composed of boxers from North Cotabato and Davao. The pool is up to 22 fighters, half of whom, according to Espinosa, will be ready for action in Beijing.

The Davao fighters are being supported by Rep. Tony Boy Floirendo. Gov said he has two outstanding simonpures from North Cotabato and Floirendo, at least four who could lead the charge for the country’s first Olympic gold.

"Espinosa is salivating and he’s convinced out of our pool will emerge the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist in boxing," said Gov. "Two of our best prospects came from the national team but left camp because they felt they weren’t being adequately supported. When the time comes, we’ll challenge the fighters in the national team in a box-off and let the best ones represent the country in the Olympics."

Espinosa turns 68 on Dec. 22 and Gov is flying in his wife from Cuba to celebrate his birthday. "He’s doing wonders for us and it’s the least we can do for him," said Gov.

By the way, Liranza was recently contracted by the ABAP to coach the national team at the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games but he’s still not in town.

Lopez said Liranza is scheduled to arrive on Nov. 5 after the Pan-American Games in Brazil. Liranza was on the Cuban coaching staff that reaped a harvest of five golds, two silvers and a bronze at the Athens Olympics.

Gov said if Liranza isn’t able to come, he’s willing to lend Espinosa’s services for the SEA Games.

There are unconfirmed reports that Liranza is delaying his arrival because he’s holding out for better terms in his contract.

Dyan Castillejo-Garcia, who co-hosts ABS-CBN’s "Sports Unlimited" with Marc Nelson, went to Panabo City, Davao del Norte, the other week to meet Espinosa and the top amateur fighters from Gov’s and Floirendo’s stables. She was thoroughly impressed.

Dyan said Floirendo’s stable has about 60 fighters from eight to 17 years old.

"I was really inspired by how they train," said Dyan. "Congressman Floirendo makes sure the kids go to school and maintain at least an 80 percent average. The kids are disciplined. They’re quartered like in a military school. I spoke to some of their parents and the feedback was very positive."

Dyan said the fighters have already learned so much from Espinosa. "For a man of 67, Señor Espinosa is in fantastic shape," noted Dyan. "He only speaks Spanish but Gov got an El Salvadorian living in Kidapawan to act as an interpreter. He does the punch mitts and works out himself. He told me the first thing he noticed about Filipino fighters is how they hold up their fists with their arms wide open instead of tucked close to the body. He’s teaching the kids how to box the amateur style and not the pro style."

Dyan got a taste of Espinosa’s teaching when she sparred three rounds with Marc in front of "Sports Unlimited" cameras. While she traded punches, Espinosa barked instructions from the sidelines.

If you want to know if Dyan gave Marc a beating or vice versa, watch "Sports Unlimited" after "Sabado Movie Greats" on ABC-CBN Channel 2 tomorrow night or catch the replay on ANC at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The entire show will focus on the Mindanao boxing program.