Minda bets shine in national slugfest

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY , Philippines  – Albert Pagala of Misamis Oriental and Victorio Saludar of Davao del Norte scored victories in convincing fashions in the second day of action in the Smart-Abap National Amateur Boxing Championship Tuesday night at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.

Pagala, the 17-year-old brother of reigning Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) champion Anthony Pagala, stopped Harmon Jay Valedo of Baguio City in the second round to advance to the semifinal round of the boys’ flyweight division.

Four other fighters under Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno reached the semis of the five-day meet aimed at discovering talents who could be trained and developed for spots in the national team competing in the 2010 inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore in August.

“I train everyday since I really want to compete in the Olympics,” said Pagala in Filipino.

Aside from Pagala, who trains under Gilbert Basadre and 1990 Asian Games gold medalist Roberto Jalnaiz, other MisOr bets in the semis are Ronald Abid, Raymund Jhon Tabugon, Rafael Jalnaiz and elder brother, Robert Miguel.

Abid booted out Angelo Ilagan of Tayabas City in the second round of their youth boys’ light flyweight encounter while Tabugon fashioned out a 26-16 victory over Gedion Cordova of Bago City in the youth boys’ flyweight class.

Rafael Jalnaiz, meanwhile, shocked Mindanao leg champion Robert Paradero with a 9-6 decision in the kids’ vacuum weight division while Robert Miguel won over Romer Dagoy of Zamboanga City with 57 seconds left in the second round of their kids’ ant weight duel.

But it was Saludar, the younger brother of RP team mainstay Rey Saludar, who turned in the most impressive win so far in the tournament.

Saludar unleashed a solid left hook to knock out Ronel Parcon of Bacolod City in the third round of their youth boys’ bantamweight showdown. His stunning feat earned the nod of national coaches Pat Gaspi, Boy Catolico, Romeo Brin and Roel Velasco.

“He’s a power puncher,” Velasco said.

Also advancing to the quarters in the junior boys’ featherweight division were Camiguin’s Jayson Umbal, who defeated Bacolod City’s Christopher Ganje, who was disqualified with a head butt; Aglayan Bukidnon’s Mario Fernandez, who scored a 10-4 decision over Cris Paulino of Manila; and Davao del Norte’s Raffy Cavan, who pulled a 12-9 victory over Palawan A’s Mesaek Alpuerto.

Other winners in the youth boys’ division were Davao del Norte’s Glen Cantaveros, Angelo Marcial and Puerto Princesa A’s Ruiz Lorenzo Tesorio.

In the youth boys’ flyweight category, James dela Cerna of Mandaluyong City posted a 22-14 win over Dave Asilo of Puerto Princesa C while Reg Milligin of Bacolod City disposed of Jayson Entia of Maasin City, 23-8.

In the kids’ kiddie weight division, Palawan’s Billy Ray Naelgas prevailed over Tagbilaran City’s Regor Suganob, 18-3, while Andrei Monton of Tagbilaran City scored a second round stoppage of Gabriel Rosas of Maasin City.