Tañamor, 6 other PA pugs gain finals

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte — Seven members of the strong-Philippine Army team barged into the finals of the seniors division of the National Amateur Boxing Olympic Festival Sunday night at the Mindanao Civic Center here.

Veteran internationalists Harry Tañamor (lightflyweight), Violito Payla (flyweight), Godfrey Castro (bantamweight), Genebert Basadre (lightweight), Romeo Brin (welterweight), Francis Joven (light-heavyweight) and Maraon Golez (heavyweight) go for golds in their respective finals.

While the Armymen are heavily-favored to annex the overall title in this week-long competitions sponsored by Pacific Heights, Elorde-Parañaque boxing team is also determined to stop the Army’s onslaught.

Elorde-Parañaque put five boxers — Warlito Parreñas (flyweight), Joan Tipon (bantamweight), Junel Cantancio (featherweight), Juan Martin Elorde (lightweight) and Delfin Boholst (lightwelterweight) in the finals.

The biggest gathering of the country’s leading amateur boxers is under the supervision of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines headed by Manny Lopez and supported by Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Quibranza and Rep. Bobby Dimaporo.

Marvin Somodio of University of Baguio-Shape Up Gym prevented the Army from making the pinweight finals when he outlasted Bill Vicera, 18-15, to arrange a showdown with Daniel Fuentes of Davao del Norte for the gold.

Olongapo City had two boxers in the finals — Artist Martin Jr. (seniors, middleweight) and Arvin Ferreria (juniors, light-welterweight).

In the juniors, Davao del Norte is picked to emerge overall champion with seven finalists. In the women’s division, Alice Kate Aparri of UB-Shape-Up and Gretchen Abaniel of Puerto Princesa City renew their rivalry in the pinweight division.