GUIYANG, China – Umabante sa gold medal round sina Josie Gabuco at Nesthy Petecio ng PLDT-ABAP National boxing team matapos umiskor ng magkahiwalay na panalo sa China Open Boxing southwes-tern Chinese capital.
Tinalo ng reigning 48 kg. world champion na si Gabuco ng Palawan si 2012 London Olympics silver medalist at 3-time world flyweight (51 kg.) champion Ren Cancan sa kanilang semifinal bout.
Nabigong sabayan ng Chinese policewoman ang mas maliit niyang kalabang Pinay. Ginitla ni Petecio si Liu Chang, ang reigning lightweight national champion ng China, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang matutulis na hooks at uppercuts para makuha ang isang majo-rity decision win.
Makakatapat nina Gabuco at Petecio sa finals sina Xu Shiqi ng China at New Zealand boxer Alexis Pritchard, ayon sa pagkakasunod.
Umiskor naman si 2012 London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga ng panalo kontra kay Indian bet Naveen Kumar, ang silver medalist sa 2011 world junior championships, sa men’s side.
Sinundan ni Junel Cantancio, ang pamangkin ni national coach Leopoldo Cantancio, ang panalo ni Barriga nang talunin si Mauritian Colin, 28-25.
Kabiguan naman ang nalasap ni Nico Magli-quian ng Talisay, Negros Occidental sa mga kamay ni Ajay Kumar ng India via 1-2 decision.
Makakatapat ni Barriga sa semis si Chinese Xu Chao, habang lalabanan ni Cantancio si Chinese boxer Wang Bo.
“This is a shortened tournament with only eight countries, but if you look at the line-ups you will realize the high caliber of boxers entered here. We have ex-Olympians, world champions and up-and-coming ta-lents. We’re happy to be here but even happier that some of our boxers are in the medal fights,†sabi ni ABAP executive director Ed Picson. “Let’s take this all the way to the world championships, the SEA Games and beyond.â€