Tayabas boxers impose awesome power

MANILA, Philippines - Boxers Jessie Diaz and Jeric Ferrer fashioned out a pair of emphatic victories as Tayabas shared the spotlight with host Laguna in the final day of the Southern Luzon qualifying leg of Batang Pinoy at the Laguna Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna yesterday.

Diaz pounded John Dorex of Laguna with solid shots, forcing the referee to step in and stop the bout with 1:25 left in the third round for the gold medal in the 50kg division while Ferrer scored a second round referee stopped contest (RSC) win over Bicol’s Anjo Basagre in the 52kg class.

Tayabas wound up with a total of seven golds in boxing with EJ Nares (38kg), Ronato Alias (40kg), Rammel Ofemaria (42kg), Manuel Cabisda (44kg) and Christian Rabo (46kg) accounting for the other five.

“This is the product of our strong boxing program made up of determined young boxers and the ably support from our local government officials,” said coach Gabiel Vicera whose younger brothers Isidro and Virgilio were former members of the national team who won medals in various international tournaments.

Laguna’s Leonardo Baino edged Bicol’s Mark Hapin, 5-3, for the gold in the 36 kg, while Benjie Villagracia hacked out a 15-4 verdict over Wendell Tierra of Tayabas for the 48kg title for the hosts, who won the overall championship in the event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by Smart, Maynilad and Summit Natural Drinking Water.

With only the taekwondo event left to be disputed, overall champion Laguna has collected 89 golds, 75 silvers and 42 bronze medals as it dominated medal-rich sports like athletics and swimming where they won 32 gold medals each.

Gilbert Rutaquio took his third individual gold medal in the boys 3000m run with 10:46 effort to match teammate Marimar Amarga’s feat in the event supported by Milo, Jollibee, The British Council, Standard Insurance, Manila Bulletin, Negros Navigation-Super Ferry, Kids 3 Food Supplement, RELIV Now for Kids and Growee Multivitamins.

Tankers Joshua Casino and Ariana Herranz won two more individual gold medals in the pool events with Casino topping the 12-13 100m freestyle (1:01.11) and 100m butterfly (1:06.67) to raise his medal collections to four gold medals.

Herranz ruled the girls 14-15 200m IM (2:40:29) and 50m back (33.30) to match the performance of Casino while Catherine Bondad claimed her third individual gold medal in the 12-13 100m freestyle (1:06.08).

The host province also struck hard in weightlifting by winning three of the four gold medals disputed while also producing three gold medals in badminton with Jimbo Flores topping the men’s singles and the pair of Emilio Mangubat Jr. and John Abuel Sy and Joela Geva De Vera and Maira Antonnette Reyes dominating the boys and girls doubles.

Vince Angele Medina topped the boys chess with five points while Damariñas, Cavite bet teammate Ruth Aubrey De Guzman missed the opportunity for a double gold celebration as she bowed to Maria Antoinette San Diego of Dasmariñas, Cavite in the tiebreak points to settle for the silver medal in the girls play.

Lipa City was a far second in the overall race with 7-4-9 medal count with the medals coming in the pool events. Ma. Aresa Lipat led the way with four gold medals in the girls (14-15) 50m free, 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly.

Tayabas took third with 7-3-1 medal count while Antipolo City who had only four athletes competing in athletics, swimming and badminton, claiming four gold medals for fourth place.

Trackster Dustine De Vera won all his three events in athletics in 100m, 400m and 200m run while Eleanor Christine Inlayo took the fourth gold medal in girls singles in badminton.

A total of 14 from 26 Local Government Units that participated the tournament won gold medals with Daet, Camarines Norte rounding out the top five with 2-2-0 medal count.