MANILA, Philippines--North Cotabato won six bouts in an ominous start in the 2008 PLDT-Smart National Open, Youth and Women?s Amateur Boxing Championships which got going Sunday at Robinsons Mall in Iloilo City.

Posting the most impressive win for North Cotabato was 15-year-old Joemel Malacad, who scored an RSC (referee-stopped-contest) win over Irvin Borbon of Cebu City in the Cadet Division?s pinweight class.

With Panabo City fielding only one fighter on Day One, North Cotabato stole the show with Darwin Pedrigosa and Larry Lerio also prevailing over their foes in the Cadet division even as Joemer?s younger brother Leopoldo and Ricky Ayson moved into the second round of the junior light mosquito weight in the School Boys category.

Also victorious was Federico Ame, who won in the no-weight Kids division.

Panabo City broke into the win column thanks to Quirino Mellejor, who came from behind to hammer out a 36-34 win against Macky Delfin from Aslum, Malaybalay, in the pinweight Cadet class.

Daryl Basadre, younger brother of 2006 Doha Asiad bronze medalist Genebert, delivered Misamis Oriental?s first win also in the pinweight class with a hard-earned 18-16 win over Ronnie Catedrilla of Iloilo.