Elorde grandson wins crown

IRIGA CITY – An unassuming teener gave boxing aficionados a new face to mark Sunday even as Philippine Navy captured eight weight divisions to regain the men’s overall title at the close of the 2001 National Juniors, Seniors and Women’s Open Amateur Boxing Championships here.

Juan Martin Elorde, grandson of the great Flash Elorde, completed the first step in retracing the former world champion’s rise to greatness with a points victory over Rey Allan Naquila of Bukidnon in their light welterweight championship in the juniors division of this three-in-one tournament.

Elorde, a student at La Salle—Alabang who will turn 17 this month, displayed semblance of the Flash’ brilliance when he continuously fended off all attempts by the Bukidnon pug to turn the game around in the four-round contest en route to a 28-26 victory.

Elorde’s win almost overshadowed the Navy’s triumphant voyage to the men’s title capped by the emergence of Larry Semillano as its newest hero.

Semillano displayed a different ring savvy in defeating Olympian and top favorite Romeo Brin of the Army, 24-19, in the welterweight class.

Semillano’s win came after the seven other PN-Bago boxers showed too much class against separate rivals to anchor the Navymen’s march to the overall crown.

Pinweight Juanito Magliquian started the Navy juggernaut with a 31-14 drubbing of Edmon Doronilla of South Cotabato after which bantamweight Ferdie Gamo, featherweight Roel Laguna, light welterweight Salvador Tizon, light middleweight Junie Tizon, middleweight Reynaldo Galido and heavyweight Rolando Escobar completed the sailors’ siege.

Deposed champion Army consoled itself with three gold medals for second place while the Philippine Air Force settled for a lone gold in the 12-weight division seniors contest of this tournament put up solely by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) and the Iriga City government headed by Mayor Emmanuel Alfelor.