Suarez sparks Pinoy fighters charge

MANILA, Philippines – Five Filipino boxers hurdled their opening-day assignments yesterday as they warmed up for the tougher days ahead in the MVP International Boxing Friendship Cup at the PICC Forum.

Charly Suarez, a gold medalist in the 2009 Laos SEA Games and a hot prospect for this year’s Asian Games, led the Pinoy charge with a 5-1 win over Sri Lankan featherweight MDK Wanniarchchi.

Also scoring for the Philippines in this seven-nation, four-day event were lightfly Alice Kate Aparri, flyweight Gerson Nietes, bantamweight Recky Dulay and lightweight Joegin Ladon.

Aparri, a SEA Games gold medalist in 2005 and 2009, whipped Thailand’s Sopida Satumram, 5-0; Nietes pummeled Sri Lanka’s DM Samarasekara, 13-3; Dulay survived Chinese Taipei’s Yu Chen Lin, 4-4 (but with a higher personal individual score or PIS); while Ladon stopped Hong Kong’s Chan Tsz Yin at the 2:35 mark of the second round, 13-3.

They all advanced to the semis and assured themselves of bronze medals in this event that offers 12 gold medals (seven in the men’s side and five in the women’s division). To spice it up, all winners will receive $1,000 (roughly P46,000).

Lightweight Jameboy Vicera and light-welter Rolando Tacuyan were scheduled to climb the ring late last night.

While the predominantly Pinoy crowd at cold, well-kept venue cheered wildly for each of the victories, RP Elite team head coach Roel Velasco had some reservations.

“I think they’re just warming up. Their bodies are still a little tight. But in their next few bouts I think they will start to loosen up,” said Velasco, a bronze medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Of the foreign participants, Velasco said he’s looking at the Thais and the Chinese as toughest to hurdle. Other entries come from Macau, Hong Kong, Taipei and Sri Lanka.

Air-conditioning inside the venue was a little too cold for comfort, according to Aparri, who hails from Baguio.

“It takes a while before you sweat it out. It’s a little cold inside. Mahirap pawisan,” said Aparri, a bronze medalist in the recent World Championships in Kazakhstan.

But on on the ring, sweat or no sweat, she put up a good fight and made it look easy.