Airmen steal show in slugfest

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan — The Philippine Air Force made a show of force in men’s action even as women boxers take center stage in Day 3 of the National Open Men and Women Amateur Boxing Championships at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.

Dick Varron, Wilbert Eballes and Neil Postolero overpowered their respective rivals to move a step closer into the medal round of this event organized by Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP).

Focus, however, will be on powerhouse Baguio City women’s boxing team, which opens its campaign against hometown bets. Alice Kate Aparri (light fly), bronze medalist in last year’s Asian women’s boxing championship in Bangkok, Thailand, shoots for a finals slot as she squares off with Lea Antonio of Palawan.

The 18-year-old Hotel and Restaurant Management major at the University of Baguio spearheads the City of Pines’ seven-woman side, including three fellow national team mainstays Jouvelit Chilem, Noemi Pe-Keng and Glein Pedroche.

"We went down here primarily because of our women boxers since our men’s team is competing only for exposure," said UB athletic director ParaisoBautista.

The lone Baguio City bet remaining in the men’s class is flyweight Aris Mark Somodio, who outpointed Leandro de la Cruz of Dagupan City, 49-31. Baguio City coach Glicerio Catolico, a member of the ABAP coaching staff, expressed confidence his charges will run away with the overall crown in the distaff side.

Varron overwhelmed Cebu City’s Robert Allanic, 67-42, while Eballes beat Jerope Mercado of the Navy, 49-40, and Postolero edged Jeric Jacob of Camarines Norte, 49-43.

Next rival for Varron is Zohary Rosia of Areneo Fitness Gym-Quezon City, a 41-25 winner over Gedeon Nazareno of Paba, Palawan, while Postolero tackles Camarines Norte’s Ryan Enova, who needed just 26 seconds to dispose of Zamboanga City’s Jonard Requina for a RSC-O verdict, for berths in the semis round.

Their teammates —Jovive Eugenio and Rico Laput — were not as fortunate. Pinweight Eugenio failed to sustain an early charge as he dropped a close 55-59 decision to Cotabato Province’s Dennis Jutillano while Laput did not show up in his flyweight preliminary bout versus Puerto Princesa’s Jimmy Ambray.

The Navy was equally impressive, though not as ruthless as the Air Force, as it sent two of its three boxers into the next phase with contrasting wins.

Johnny Cadigal silenced a partisan crowd as he pulled off a thrilling 51-49 triumph over Puerto Princesa’s Ramel Ebales while Aresto Gorra entered the quarterfinals the easier way, beating another Puerto Princesa bet Jonard Baja, 62-33.