Hometown pugs awe crowd

IBA, Zambales, Philippines  â€“ Hometown bets Lloyd Trinidad and Jess Ganayan kept the crowd up on its feet Wednesday evening by beating their respective foes in the PLDT-ABAP National Capital Region/Luzon boxing tournament at the Capitol Grounds here.

Trinidad, a bronze medalist in the 2011 Philippine National Games at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, advanced to the finals of the youth boys (17-18 years) lightweight when he forced Laguna’s Apolinar Penitente into submission in the third round.

Trinidad, 18, was all over his opponent, and the crowd that gathered at the open-air venue cheered him on. He advanced to the finals scheduled tonight.

Ganayan, another promising 18-year-old, stunned Kabaka Manila’s Jay-R Mingote, 7-2, in the 53kg youth boys flyweight class. Like Trinidad, he is expected to lure the crowd in the final day of competition in this slugfest organized by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

The winners here will advance to the National Finals on Feb. 17-23 in Maasin, Southern Leyte. Also vying in that weeklong tournament are the winners in the previous Mindanao leg in Bago City and the Visayas leg in Bacolod.

“This is part of our continuing search for fresh talents across the nation,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson.

Three boxers from Tayabas, Quezon also made it to the finals.

Aldrin Signar outclassed Olongapo’s Lester Lhan Tualla. 14-6, in the 46kg junior boys pinweight; Jessie Diaz stopped Tarlac’s Christian Dave Manalo in the first round (RSC) of their 50kg juniors boys flyweight bout;  and Richard Agora scored a second round Referee-Stopped-Contest victory over Zambales’ Edwin Quinto Jr. in the 46kg youth boys pinweight division.

Also putting on a show were Sorsogon’s Fernel Gastpi over Raymart Foster of Matnog, 14-6, in the 46kg junior boys pinweight, Lawrence Ordonio of San Fernando City against Urdaneta’s Christopher Salazar, (RSC) in the first round of the 50 kg junior boys flyweight and Rizal Technological University’s Mark Alex Brin at the expense of Lucena City’s Arvin Yordan (RSC) in the second round.

“We’re expecting the action to get even more intense as we head to the medal bouts,” said ABAP president Ricky Vargas.

Picson also thanked Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for ensuring the success of the tournament.

“Gov. Ebdane’s assistance, as well as that of his staff, has gone a long way in guaranteeing a smooth flow for this important event,” said Picson.

Eric Matibag, sports and youth development consultant for Zambales, said the province is on the lookout for promising boxers from all their 13 towns and 240 barangays.