Two RP pugs reach semis

MANILA, Philippines – Two Filipino fighters reached the semifinal round in separate tournaments in Thailand and China to assure Team RP of bronze medals over the weekend.

Flyweight Victorio Saludar dominated Sanwad Laxman of Nepal, 7-2, to reach the Final Four and assure himself of at least a bronze medal in the 32nd King’s Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.

Light flyweight Crisanto Godaren, meanwhile, hopes to advance to the next round as he takes on Russian Alexander Samoytov, also in the King’s Cup.

Featherweight Jhergigs Chavez, who scored a 3-0 win over Vietnamese Nguyen Van Hung in the opening day, fell by the wayside as he dropped a sorry 3-4 setback to Jo-Min Jae of Korea.

Over in China, light flyweight bet Gerson Nietes assured himself of a bronze medal as he barged into the semis after taking a bye in the China Open in Guiyang, Guizhou province.

Nietes will go up against Idyay Sulay-Minov of Kazakhstan this Friday in this two-star AIBA-sanctioned event.

Joining Nietes are lightweight Jameboy Vicera and light welterweight Rey Melligen who were to face Farhany Radoune of France and Huricha Bilige of China, respectively, at presstime.

Also in the seven-man RP contingent in China are flwyweight Rey Saludar, featherweight Charlie Suarez, bantamweight Francis Palicte and welterweight Wilfredo Lopez.