News & Events

Filipino American Sports Heroes with Local Roots

By Linda Claramo

The collage of Filipino American Sports Heroes with Local Roots was created by FANHS Stockton Chapter member and artist, Laurena Rojas Cabanero. The Filipino American sports heroes represent past and present athletes, coaches and administrators who have connections to Stockton, CA and San Joaquin County. Their talents and achievements instill energy and pride to the local community.

1. Fedencio Dentoy Revillar - Escrima Master and creator of the Serrada, Largo Mano, De Cuerdas (SLD) Escrima System. He assisted Angel Cabales, Max Sarimiento and Leo Giron in opening the first Filipino martial arts school in the U.S. and became one of the instructors.

2. Angel Cabales - Escrima Grandmaster, the “father of Escrima in America.” In 1966, he became one of the pioneers of Filipino Martial Arts in the United States when, along with Max Sarimiento and Leo Giron. He opened the first public Filipino martial arts school in Stockton, CA; the first such school in the U.S.

3. Joane Orbon - After being a student of Sensei Gene Tibon, Joane went on to become a national and international Karate champion; 14-time National Champion and 6 time Pan American champion.

4. Sensei Gene Tibon – An 8th Degree Black belt certified by Goju Ryu Uchiage Kai, a member of the Japan Karate Federation and member of the World Karate Federation with the International Olympic Committee. He is owner and chief instructor of Tibon’s Goju-Ryu Fighting Arts Karate Dojo in Stockton, CA. He has been inducted into the International Martial Arts Competitors Federation Black Belt Hall of Fame, the World of Martial Arts Hall of Fame, the Pioneer and Legends Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and the USA National Karate-do Federation Hall of Fame.

5. Nic Belasco - A professional basketball player and coach for over 20 years. During his time in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as a small and power forward, he acquired many awards; including 8-time PBA Champion, fourtime PBA All-Star and being named to the PBA All-Defensive Team.

6. Jimmy Florita - Stockton professional boxer in the 1940’s

7. Dan Inosanto - Noted Filipino-American martial arts instructor and authority on Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts, and Pencak Silat. He is credited for training martial arts to several Hollywood actors including Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. Holds numerous belts in various martial arts and an accomplished weapons practitioner, showcasing his skill in Game of Death (1978) fighting Bruce Lee, Sharky’s Machine (1981) with Burt Reynolds, with Steven Seagal in Out for Justice (1991) and appeared in the film Big Trouble in Little China (1986).

8. Burl Tamayo Toler III - University of California alum and former Golden Bear leading receiver with 61 receptions for 795 yards as a senior. Following stints with the NFL, Canada and NFL Europe (Germany), the Arena Football League and the Italian Football League from 2006-2012, retiring from professional football in 2013. After several years of coaching, which included a wide receivers coach with UC Davis and Fresno State, Toler is back at his Alma Mater as the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for the UC Berkeley Cal Bears.

9. Raymond Townsend - First Filipino American in the NBA and considered one of the greatest athletes in the Bay Area. Raymond went on to play college basketball with the UCLA Bruins and developed his exceptional skills under the leadership of legendary coach John Wooden. History was made when Raymond was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 1978 NBA draft. He became the first Filipino American ever drafted in the NBA.

10. Ray Paular - As a teenager, Ray was the starting pitcher for Stockton’s Filipino Youth Association. Ray was also an accomplished amateur boxer, competing in Golden Gloves bouts throughout California. In 1948, he became the California Golden Gloves Silver Medalist representing Stockton at the statewide competition in San Francisco, CA.

11. Eric Mina - 2010 Winner of the Pac-10 Golfing Championship, second CAL Berkeley men’s golfer to win the individual medalist honor at the Pac-10 Championship Conference in in the university’s 51-year history.

12. Karen Bryant - Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager of the Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) Los Angeles Sparks, who are three-time WNBA champions.

13. Sleepy Caballero - Stockton professional boxer with over 300 amateur and professional fights. In his honor, the City of Stockton hung a boxing banner with his picture in Little Manila.

14. Benny Casing - Benny “The Champ” Casing fought out of Stockton in the late 1950’s to the early 1970’s. He had 30 professional bouts in the featherweight division for which he had a winning record. He became the trainer of Stockton’s Alvaro “Yaqui” Lopez, one of the greatest light heavyweight champions.

15. Felicia Quilangtang Frowley - Successful CrossCountry Coach at the university and high school levels. She was named California Interscholastic Federation San Joaquin Model Coach of the Year, inducted into the St. Mary’s Hall of Fame and the Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame.

16. Leo Giron - Leo was a WWII veteran and was awarded Bronze Star. The founder of Bahala, a Martial Arts Association and is known as the Father of Largo Mano Escrima system in America.

17. Jimmy Alapag - Jimmy played professional basketball in the Philippines for 13 years as a point guard. Known as “The Mighty Mouse” and “The Captain” in the Philippine Basketball League (PBA), he acquired many honors, including: 6-time PBA champion, 2-time PBA Finals MVP, PBA Most Valuable Player, PBA Best Player of the Conference, 11-time PBA All -Star, PBA All-Star Game MVP, PBA’s 40 Greatest Players. He is currently an assistant coach of the Stockton Kings G League team.