Saludar brothers fuel Phl pugs medal drive

GUANGZHOU – The fighting Saludar brothers sustained the initial spark provided by Wilfredo Lopez Wednesday, raising the medal hopes of Team Pilipinas in the 16th Asian Games boxing event here last night.

Rey Saludar made short work of Bhutan’s Kinley Gyeltshen, whisking him off in 1:34 of the opening round in their 52kg bout while the younger Victorio pounded out an 8-1 win over Malaysian Redzuan Mohd in the 46-49kg category.

The Saludar brothers, both top prospects to make the medal rounds, joined Lopez in the quarterfinals.

Rey takes a shot an automatic bronze medal versus Nepal’s Puran Rai while Victorio has a shot at the semifinals versus India’s Amandeep Singh.

Rai outpointed Timor Leste’s Artemio de Conceicao, 6-1, while Singh stopped Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Alfaini.

The Phl team expressed confidence the Saludars can well hurdle their respective quarters rivals.

Coach Pat Gaspi said the pressure has eased out and the Filipino fighters are raring to get going.

Dilfin Boholst is the fourth Phl pug to get into action, fighting Mongolia’s Tuvshinbat Byamba in a 64kg match.

Rey Saludar scored an RSC (referee stopped contest) victory, knocking out Gyeltshen with a left straight in the opening round.