Misamis Oriental fighters dominate nat'l amateur slugfest

TAGBILARAN, Bohol, Philippines – Misamis Oriental came away with seven gold medals at the close of the PLDT-ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championship at the Cogon gym here Thursday, breaking away from early contender General Santos City to claim the overall championship.

With an addition of five silvers and eight bronzes, MisOr emerged as the most bemedaled team in the grassroots development program launched by ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and ABAP president Ricky Vargas, also the president of Maynilad Water.

Overseeing the tourney were officials from world governing body AIBA, the Asian Boxing Association, ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio and ABAP executive director Ed Picson, who put together the entire event which served as the culmination of ABAP’s year-long talent search program.

Leading MisOr’s romp was Juniel Lacar, who dealt GenSan’s Ronnie Tanallon a 30-17 beating in the 49kg elite light flyweight class, a triumph that earned him Best Boxer honors in his division.

The other top fighters were Tagbilaran’s Jessel Mark Araula in the youth class, GenSan’s Jade Bornea (juniors), and Tayabas’ Jennie Miranda (women’s). Named Best Referee was Maximo Abalos of National Capital Region-Caloocan and Best Judge Cildo Evasco of CAR-Baguio.

Araula edged MisOr’s Rimar Metuda, 19-14, in the 56kg boys bantamweight final, Bornea, a candidate to the national training pool, hammered Davao del Norte’s Charnie Jun Magsayo, 21-10, in the 50kg junior boys flyweight class, and Miranda clubbed Maasin’s Ruby Nicanor, 26-14, in the 48kg junior girls light flyweight category.

Tayabas in Quezon and Davao del Norte took second and third places, respectively, in the medal standings with identical three gold and three silvers; Tayabas, however, managed seven bronzes against Davao’s two.

GenSan picked up two early gold medals courtesy of the Bornea twins, Jade and Jake, but could only secure one more from three remaining championship bouts to finish fourth with three gold, two silvers and eight bronzes.

Mandaue had two gold, two silvers and two bronzes; Cebu City 2-1-5, Bago City 2-0-2, Tagbilaran 1-2-2, Manolo Fortich, 1-1-0, Leyte 1-1-0, and Gingoog 1-0-1, wrapping up the gold medal winners.

Asuncion and Team Andrada-Manila had two silvers each, Maasin a silver and five bronzes, Negros Occidental a silver and a bronze, and Leyte a lone silver. Camiguin and Zamboanga settled for two bronzes, and Dumaguete and Cablayon a bronze each.

The other gold medal winners for MisOr were Julito Sumalinog (52kg jr. boys light bantam), Princess Galarfe (50kg jr. girls fly), Remark Casas (49kg boys light fly), Beverly Casero (46kg girls pinweight), Margie Waga (ret. R2/51kg girls fly), and Jenniver Flores (54kg girls bantam).

Tayabas garnered two more girls gold besides Miranda – Carren Cabarubias (48kg girls light fly) and Teresa Conje (50kg jr. girls fly), while Davao del Norte was made proud by Jobel Araneta (54kg jr. boys bantam), Quirino Mellejor Jr. (60kg elite lightweight), and Jay Ar Inson (64kg elite light welterweight).

Elite 52-kilogram flyweight campaigner Roldan Boncales, representing GenSan-A, was the third gold medal winner for the former Dadiangas.