3 more Pinoy fighters advance to final

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Bantamweight Junel Cantancio, lightweight Joegin Ladon and light heavyweight Maximino Tabangcora completed a 13-man RP cast all ranged against Thai rivals at the close of 24th SEA Games boxing competition here today.

Horror of horrors, all 17 Thai fighters reached the finale.

Cantancio, Ladon and Tabangcora all won on points versus their respective opponents, joining 10 other Filipino pugs who advanced to the finals Sunday and Monday.

Cantancio hacked out a 20-13 win over Quoc Viet Tran in the super-bantamweight class, Ladon overwhelmed Malaysian Paunandes Paulus of Malaysia in the lightweight division, 16-3, while Tabangcora was equally dominant in his light-heavyweight encounter with Sisouphanh Lavilaiseng of Laos, 13-8, in the penultimate day of SEAG boxing at the Tumbon Mueagpung Stadium.

The day didn’t start well for Team Philippines with Albert Pabila falling prey to local rival Ruenroeng Amnat.

The Bago City native seemed to figure in a close encounter with Thai but ended up badly beaten on official score, 8-18, giving the Filipinos a hint of what to expect when they face the Thais in the finale today.

“I’m a little bit apprehensive although I was given assurance by our president Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu that all will be fair, clean and honest,” said Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez.

Three of four Filipinos, who failed to make the finals, were eased out by a Thai opponent.

Non Boonjumnong, Angkhan Chomphuphuang and Pichai Sayota were all worthy finalists, stopping their respective rivals inside the distance last night.

“It’s six Pinays versus seven Thais in women’s and seven Pinoys versus 10 Thais in men’s. Our fighters have the will to win. We’ll surely give them a good fight,” said RP head coach Nolito “Boy” Velasco.

In tonight’s finale, Mitchel Martinez (light-flyweight), Alice Kate Appari (light-flyweight), Analisa Cruz (light-bantamweight), Annie Albania (flyweight), Jouvilet Chilem (bantamweight) and Ronijen Sofla (featherweight) seek to accomplish the championship quest in women’s division.

Doha Asian Games bronze medalist Godfrey Castro (flyweight) is at the forefront of the RP men’s gold medal campaign together with Junie Tizon (middleweight), Larry Semillano (super-lightweight) and Orlando Tacuyan Jr (featherweight).