Banal sibling exacts revenge, enters final

BAGO CITY, Philippines – Hipolito Banal Jr., younger brother of world title contender AJ “Bazooka” Banal, yesterday marched into the finals of the 2012 PLDT-ABAP Visayas Area boxing tournament at the Bago City Coliseum here.

Banal, fighting out of Mandaue City, outclassed his tormentor in last year’s National Finals, Mark Anthony Montinola, 19-11, in the junior boys’ light-flyweight division

“It was revenge,” said the 15-year-old student at Kabankalan National High who added that he wants to follow in the footsteps of his more illustrious brother.

AJ Banal, 23, went for the WBO bantamweight crown last week but was knocked out by Thailand’s Pungluang Sor Singyu in the ninth round at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“It was a pity,” said the younger Banal, adding that he felt that his brother may have lacked the stamina for the fight because he didn’t do enough roadwork.

He will shoot for the gold medal today against Northern Samar’s Willy Boy Domique, a 12-11 winner over Eljean Hermedalla of Bacolod.

Kevin Smith of Ireland, the newly acquired consultant of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, watched with ABAP executive director Ed Picson from ringside and grinned with satisfaction.

Other semis winners were Jesmar Martir of Bago City B and Alemar Javier of Maasin in the junior boys’ bantamweight; Jossa Santisteban of Bago City A in the junior girls pinweight; Alvin Sibugan of Bacolod and Raymart Flores of Bago City A in the youth boys’ lightfly; and Jeffrey Bagacay of Bago City A and Danjay Nietes of Bacolod in the youth boys’ bantam.

Martir defeated Jastin Bolanos of Bago City B, 10-4; Javier stopped Milwin Ramirez of Negros in only 43 seconds; Sanisteban demolished Socorro Talamante of Talisay in just 12 seconds; Sibugan pounded Ronald Cerbito of Northern Samar (RSC); Flores outclassed Minard Gana-an of Sta. Catalina (RSC); Servania outpointed Jeffrey Bagacay of Bago City A, 11-9; and Nietes survived Vicente Casido of Dumaguete, 17-13.

The gold medalists here will advance to the National Finals scheduled in March in Maasin, Leyte. The Mindanao leg is set next month while the NCR leg will take place in January.