3 Cebu pugs reach finals in ABAP tourney

CEBU - Three golds are within reach for the Cebuano pugilists in the 2009 Smart-PLDT National Youth, Men and Women’s Open Amateur Boxing Championships in Bacolod City. Five others settled for bronze after losing in their respective semifinal assignments the other night.

The Cebu City Niños send only two bets to the finals, while the Summit Natural Drinking Water-sponsored Mandaue City is left with Mark Vincent Bernaldez for the gold medal hunt.

The surviving Niños in the week-long slugfest organized by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) under the new leadership of Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas are 31 kgs. Juriel Jimenez and 54 kgs. Dave Peñalosa.

Jimenez, who is under the kids division, mauled Rodel Pagamunilla of Bago to set up a gold medal match with Remar Maruña of Bacolod Team A.

Peñalosa, for his part, came up with a lopsided 21-6 victory over Eduardo Edurot of General Santos City in the youth division.

Mandaue’s Bernaldez, on the other hand, dumped Alexander Gamo of Cadiz City to assure himself of at least a silver medal in the 54 kgs. of the juniors division.

Before the finale, Cebu City got three bronzes courtesy of 40 kgs. Andrino Peskante, 48 kgs. Jomari Yuson, and 52 kgs. Allan Repuera, while Mandaue got two behind the efforts of 35 kgs. Lorenz Michael Romarate and 64 kgs. Jimmy Vallares. —Caecent No-ot Magsumbol   (THE FREEMAN)