Davao del Norte pugs reach semis

PUERTO PRINCESA , Philippines   – Jolan Bughanoy and Mark Anthony Barr posted emphatic victories to lead Davao del Norte’s surge to the semifinals of the 2010 Smart-ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championship late Wednesday at the Puerto Princesa coliseum here.

Bughanoy, the 18-year-old reigning Palarong Pambansa champion, blasted bitter rival Raymund Jhon Tabugon of Misamis Oriental via a referee-stopped-contest in the quarterfinals of their youth boys’ flyweight match.

Barr, meanwhile, pulled an impressive 21-8 win over Espiridion Pubadora in the junior boys’ pinweight division to help Davao del Norte in its drive for the overall title since skipping last year’s edition in Bacolod City.

Davao del Norte remains the tournament topnotcher after sending 11 of its 16 entries to the semifinals while Misamis Oriental has six of its seven entries in the medal round. Also coming up with gallant effort in this five-day tourney were Bago City, Puerto Princesa A and Palawan which will be represented by five boxers each in the semis.

Semifinal action started late Thursday to coincide with the opening hostilities in the girls’ division.

Another promising pug who stole the show was Nico Magliquian, a Talisay City native who is now campaigning for Tayabas, Quezon.

The nephew of two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Juanito Magliquian impressed the crowd with his combination of speed and craftsmanship to escape with an 11-9 victory over Raymund Lerio, the nephew of former 1996 Atlanta Olympian Arlan Lerio, in the quarterfinals of the junior boys’ flyweight division.

Other winners in the boys’ flyweight class were Jason Conception of Northern Samar, who won by disqualification over Romel Cahilig of Boracay and Rey Milligin of Bacolod City, who stopped James Dela Cerna with only a second left in the three-round bout.