MisOr fighters dominate, bag 5 gold medals

TAGBILARAN City, Bohol—Misamis Oriental flaunted its might Wednesday, grabbing five of the first 17 gold medals disputed in the 2012 PLDT-Abap National Amateur Boxing Championships at the Cogon Gymnasium here.

Julius Sumalinog (junior boys’ flyweight), Princess Galarfe (junior girls’ light flyweight), Remark Casas (youth boys’ light flyweight) and Beverly Casero (youth girls’ pinweight) all won on points to give MisOr the early lead in the medal chase of the four-day tournament that drew 25 teams to this capital city.

Margie Waga then delivered MisOr’s fifth gold when she won by retirement at the start of the second round over General Santos’ Grace Paula Canton in the girls’ flyweight finals.

The shifty Sumalinog bested Davao Del Norte’s Philip Jay Virador, 12-8; Galarfe trounced Tayabas charmer Teresa Conje, 10-1; Casas subdued Cebu’s Rodex Piala, 18-11; while Casero thwarted Tayabas’ Ma. Carolina Narez, 16-4, to push MisOr past General Santos and Bago City, which captured two golds each.

Twins Jake and Jade Bornea struck for GenSan with victories over Mandaue’s Bryan Remedio, 14-4; and Davao del Norte’s Charnie Jun Magsayo, 21-10, respectively.

Jade, who was born a few minutes ahead of his brother 16 years ago, copped the junior boys’ flyweight title while Jake bagged the junior boys’ light flyweight crown.

Bago’s James Palicte (youth boys’ lightweight) and Raymart Flores (youth’ boys pinweight) proved their mettle with RSC (referee-stopped contest) wins over Davao del Norte’s Marlon John Aguilar and Tagbilaran’s Daniel Banol, respectively.

The rangy Palicte, 17, clinched his third national amateur title in two rounds while Flores claimed his first in just one round when he pummeled Banol with body blows.

Prime prospect Kevin Jake Cataraja accounted for Mandaue’s lone gold when he trounced Jerson Magliquian, 16-8, of Team Buddy Andrada in their youth boys’ flyweight tussle.

Tayabas’ Carren Cabarubias denied MisOr the youth girls’ pinweight gold when she bested Hernani Dela Torre, 24-20, in the most applauded bout of the day.

Reaping the benefits of a strong sports program initiated by Gov. Oscar Moreno, MisOr sent 12 of its 19 fighters to the finals.

Davao del Norte had seven finalists and GenSan six, including elite flyweight Roldan Boncales of GenSan A.

The first round of the tournament organized by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines headed by Ricky Vargas was held in Carmen town of the famed Chocolate Hills, while the second round was held in Maribojoc town.