CEBU, Philippines - Suddenly, the battle for supremacy has become a three-way fight with Bago City sending six finalists, while defending champion Team Cebu City is left with five and host Mandaue City with eight bets in the final round of the 2010 PLDT-ABAP Visayas Area Amateur Boxing Championships at the Mandaue City Plaza Square.
Mandaue lost two of its gold medal hopefuls, but still leads the pack as the sure silvers are concerned.
Youth division bets 56 kgs. Christian Apawan and 64 kgs. Robert Etorma settled with a bronze each after losing their semifinal matches.
Other youth division bets from Mandaue including 46 kgs. Dannlou Codilla, 49 kgs. Reoxyl Tabogon, 52 kgs. Michael Lorenz Romarate, and 60 kgs. Melvin Besinga are assured of at least a silver.
In the juniors division, 46 kgs. Kevin Jake Cataraja, 52 kgs. Albert Pagara, 52 kgs. Mark Bernaldez and 60 kgs. Charlie Traya also entered the final round after convincing wins.
Romarate, Bernaldez and Pagara outclassed their respective opponents while the rest won on points to stay alive in this event.
Defending champion TCC’s gold medal hopefuls got cut into half with five of them ending with a bronze and the rest moving up to the final round.
Those who got a finals ticket for the Omega-powered TCC include junior division’s 54 kgs. Rommel Acruz along with youth division bets 49 kgs. Jordan Catubay, 52 kgs. Jared Payao, 64 kgs. Charlie Pocdol and 50 kgs. Jack Tepora.
Bago, on the other hand, suddenly became the darkhorse with seven finalists.Thanks mostly to its semifinal bye plus two free rides to the finals.
Bacolod, on the other hand, is assured of at least three silvers while Tagbilaran, Cabancalan and Ormoc have one sure silver apiece.
Sagay ended its bid with three bronzes while the Philippine-Australian Boxing Club settled for two bronzes along with Matalum, Team Cebu City-B and Northern Samar as Boracay left with a lone bronze. (THE FREEMAN)