ILOILO CITY—Bago City, seeking to reprise its role as the country’s premiere gold mine of boxing talents, emerged as the latest threat to Davao Del Norte’s reign in the youth division of the 2008 PLDT-Smart National Open, Youth and Women’s Amateur Boxing Championships when it sent three boxers to the semifinals late Tuesday at the Robinsons Mall.

Cottonweight Erick Jun Hondrado, school boys’ junior mosquitoweight Rogen Ladon and junior paperweight Romel Tompong delivered Referee Stopped Contest-Compulsory Count Limit victories for Bago, whose grassroots program produced Olympic medalists Mansueto and Roel Velasco.

Hondrado stopped fellow Negrense Carmelo Bermejo of Talisay City, before Ladon, the younger brother of national team standout Joegin, overwhelmed Dannie Louie Codilla of Pit-os, Cebu. Tompong defeated Reymart San Antiporda of Talisay City.

But Davao del Norte, the four-time defending champion, kept in step with kids division cottonweight campaigner Michael John Bahena pulling off a points victory over Jenreyl Lago of Gingoog City, and school boys jr. mosquito weight and 2008 Palarong Pambansa champion Mark Anthony Barriga scoring an RCS-outscored decision over Robert Tampong from Palawan.

Another Palarong Pambansa champion from Davao del Norte, cadet flyweight Jerwin Ancajas, registered an RSC-OS victory over Philfrancis Abanilla of North Cotabato.

Bacolod City, another traditional powerhouse, grabbed two semifinal seats courtesy of cottonweight Elgine Hermedalla and school boys flyweight Genesis Servania.

Gerson Nietes, cousin of WBO miniflyweight champ Donnie Nietes and the reigning Palaro best boxer from Bacolod, also reached the quarters of the school boys pinweight division when Misamis Oriental’s Daryl Basadre failed to show up for the bout.

Almost lost in the din of Bago and Davao’s assault was the victory of Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr., the son of the two-time world boxing champion from San Carlos City. Showing immense potential, Dodie Boy Jr., with his father at his corner, hammered out an RSC-OC triumph over Resam Jale of Bilar Bohol.

Meanwhile, light flyweight Albert Pabila of the Philippine Air Force launched his title-retention bid on a winning note, outscoring Cebu’s Rinel Mandate, 28-7, at the start of senior’s division action.