GenSan pugs advance to national finals

TAGBILARAN, Bohol, Philippines – Brothers Jake and Jade Bornea of General Santos posted victories in varying fashions Tuesday to lead the charge of the former Dadiangas province to the gold medal bouts in the PLDT-ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championship at the Cogon gym here.

Jake Bornea outclassed the fancied Samboy Lao of Misamis Oriental, 21-9, in the semifinals of the 48kg junior boys light flyweight class, while Jade needed a last-second flurry to edge another MisOr bet, Klemen Earl Cabahit, 11-10, in the 50kg boys flyweight category.

In other silver medal fights, it was Regel Lou Alde of GenSan over Aglayan’s Robert Paradero, 13-6 (48kg jr. pinweight); Cebu City’s Junrel Jimenez over Cabadbaran’s Jilnar Libranza, 9-7 (46kg jr. pinweight); Mandaue’s Bryan Remedio over Negros’ Feleciano Santiago, 7-2 (48kg jr. light fly); Davao del Norte’s Charnie Jun Magsayo over Tayabas’ Jeric Ferrer, 15-10 (50kg jr. fly); Negros’ Jossa Santisteban over Tayabas’ Angelica Eleazar, 11-10 (56kg jr. girls pinweight); Leyte’s Aira Villegas over GenSan’s Alexcel Dar Gantes, 18-10 (46kg jr. girls pinweight); and Tagbilaran B’s Daniel Banol over Manolo Fortich’s Melvin Jerusalem, 23-10 (46kg pinweight).

“It’s one of the best organized tournaments we’ve ever had, and we credit (Tagbilaran) Mayor (Dan Neri) Lim and his staff for its success,” said ABAP president Ricky Vargas, also the president of Maynilad Water and the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s Executive of the Year. “The fact that we’ve seen so many good boxers here should bode well for ABAP.”

Kazakhstan’s Aziz Koshambetov, executive director of the Asian Boxing Federation, was on hand during the semifinal bouts.

GenSan’s assault began in Day Two of the culmination of a year-long talent search program Monday with its fighters disposing of five opponents at the Maribojoc gym.

Overshadowed somewhat was Gov. Oscar Moreno’s Misamis Oriental stable which nonetheless raised its victory record in the four-day event to nine after sending to the next round six of its bets.

Cebu City and Mandaue each had four boxers closer to the medal bouts set today.

Davao del Norte, which came out smoking in the opener in Carmen town Sunday, hurdled two of its assignments to bring its number of wins to five.

Fifteen other teams representing provinces, cities or municipalities all over the country, including host Tagbilaran A and B, had one boxer moving up the ladder.

 For MisOr, it was Samboy Lao edging Michael John Bajena of Davao del Norte, 12-10 (48 kg. junior boys light flyweight); Klemen Earl Cabahit over Tagbilaran-B’s Kenneth Paul Gentallan, 19-11 (50 kg. jr. boys flyweight); Remark Casas defeating Camiguin’s Jeny Boy Boca, 8-5 (49 kg. boys light fly); Jaybie Haya dominating Cebu’s Steven Noblefranca, 19-10 (52 kg, boys fly); Rimar Metuda walking over Bago City’s Jefrey Bagacay (56 kg. boys bantamweight); and Juniel Lacar nipping Davao del Norte’s Joey Canoy, 20-18 (49 kg. elite light fly).

GenSan, after a slow start two days ago with only one victory, got off to blistering run as Regel Lou Alde beat Maasin’s Jayson Becong, 13-7 (46 kg. jr. boys pinweight); rising star Jake Bornea creamed Bago City’s Adrian Tambanillo, 22-14 (48 kg. jr. boys light fly); brother Jade Bornea downed Quinan Alvarez, 17-8 (50 kg. boys fly); Alexcel Dar Gantes beat Bago City’s Marianne de Luna, 18-11 (46 kg. jr. girls pinweight); and Ronnie Tanallon stopped Datu Puti’s Asher Bada (RSCH/R1) in the 49 kg. elite light flyweight category.

The Queen City of the South and Mandaue made sure Cebu Province would have its fair share of warriors in the succeeding battles.

Cebu City had Junrel Jimenez plastering Davao del Norte’s Rabicycle Gabriel, 13-5 (46 kg. jr. boys pinweight); Rodex Piala overwhelming Sarangani’s Lenjel James Tormis, 26-7 (49 kg. boys light fly); Ian Refuela downing Tagbilaran-A’s Christian Bacolod, 27-15 (49 kg. elite light fly); and Reoxyl Tobogon stopping Tagbilaran-B’s Casilo Amigo (RSC/R2) in the 56 kg. elite bantamweight; while Mandaue cheered hometown bets Bryan Remedio in outclassing Siero Illut, 12-4 (48 kg. jr. boys light fly); Rolan Servania whipping Northern Samar’s Jude Abria, 27-7 (49 kg. boys light fly); Kevin Jake Cataraja stopping Maasin’s Dave Cabanday (RSC/R2) in the 53 kg. boys flyweight class; and Dannlou Codilla routing Cebu’s Alan Refuela, 12-4 (52 kg. elite fly).