Perez shines as Pirates rally past Chiefs
Barriga to vie for vacant IBF throne
The way is clear for IBF No. 1 minimumweight contender Mark Anthony Barriga to battle for the vacant title and it appears that Mexico-born Carlos Licona will be sanctioned as his opponent for the scheduled 12-round bout that may go to a purse bid next week.
Japan’s Hiroto Kyoguchi has relinquished the IBF throne to invade the lightflyweight division and avoided a mandatory defense against Barriga who claimed the No. 1 spot by virtue of his decision over Colombia’s Gabriel Mendoza in an eliminator at the SM City North EDA Skydome last May.
Las Vegas-based international matchmaker Sean Gibbons said he was ready to submit a purse bid for Kyoguchi on July 31, the deadline imposed by the IBF for the champion to come to terms on a mandatory defense. But with Kyoguchi’s announcement to give up the belt the other day, Gibbons will now train his sights on Licona. In the IBF ratings, the No. 2 slot is vacant and Licona is No. 3.
Gibbons said Barriga’s stablemate IBF superflyweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas is lined up for his sixth defense at the Save Mart Arena in Fresno, California, on Sept. 14 in the undercard of the match between WBC superlightweight champion Jose Ramirez and Los Angeles-born Mexican Antonio Orozco. No challenger has been named for Ancajas but Gibbons said the leading candidate is Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago.
Joven Jimenez, who trains both Ancajas and Barriga at the Survival Gym in Dasmariñas, Cavite, said they’re now getting ready for their next fights. “As far as we know, Jerwin will fight on Sept. 14 but it will be confirmed this week,” said Jimenez. “We will also be told who the opponent is.” It will be the second straight fight for Ancajas at the Save Mart Arena.
Barriga said he won’t be joining Ancajas to Fresno for the September outing. “I’ll stay in Survival to train,” he said. “Even if coach Joven will be away, there are others who can take care of my training. I was told to get ready because my fight for the vacant title will probably be two weeks after Jerwin’s defense.” Jimenez’ chief assistant is Barriga’s older brother Edmel.
Kyoguchi was knocked down for the first time in his career by Filipino challenger Vince Paras in Tokyo last May but got up to score a unanimous decision. His trainer Takashi Inoue said Kyoguchi nearly cramped against Paras and it was due to dehydration. “There’s no reason to stay at 105 with sub-par performances,” said Inoue.
Barriga, 25, and Licona, 23, are unbeaten. Last June, Licona posted a split eight-round decision over Jose Armenta in Cancun and suffered a cut over his right eye in the process. He has notched two first round KOs and has fought thrice in the US, once in Puerto Rico and the rest in Mexico. Licona’s record is 13-0, with 2 KOs compared to Barriga’s 9-0, with 1 KO.
Games tomorrow (EAC Gym, Manila) 2 p.m. – UPHSD vs EAC (jrs) 4 p.m. – UPHSD vs EAC (srs)
CJ Perez put in another MVPlike performance, scoring a careerhigh 31 points as Lyceum of the Philippines University charged back from 16 points down to repel Arellano University, 8265, yesterday to stay unscathed in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan. Perez poured in 13 of his top-scoring output in the fourth quarter and spiked his game-long brilliance with six rebounds, six assists and five steals, powering the Pirates to their fourth straight victory.
The Muralla-based squad actually struggled for form in the early going, falling behind, 17-33, late in the opening period before clawing its way back in the next to pull within 37-41 at the break.
Then Perez took over, scoring almost at will in the last two quarters while the rest backed him up with a tenacious defense that held the hot-starting Chiefs to just 24 points in the last 20 minutes after opening with an impressive 33-point output.
“Arellano is really a dangerous team. We have to respect them. They really played well as a team,” said LPU coach Topex Robinson.
Reigning back-to-back champion San Beda later trounced St. Benilde, 75-69, to pick up its second straight win while San Sebastian blasted Jose Rizal U, 86-76.
Robert Bolick also came through with a career effort of 25 points, including 12 in the final period as the Lions also overcame a shaky start and needed to overhaul a 12-point deficit.
The Blazers, who were led by Clement Leutcheu’s 22 points and 11 rebounds, fell to 1-2.
San Sebastian banked on Alvin Capobres, who fired a game-high 16 points, on its way to posting a 10-point romp over JRU for a 2-2 card.
The Bombers slipped to 0-3.
The scores: LPU 82 – Perez 31, Nzeusseu 15, Ayaay 13, Marcelino JV 10, Serrano 4, Pretta 3, Caduyac 2, Cinco 2, Marcelino JC 2, Ibañez 0, Santos 0, Tansingco 0.
AU (65) – Cañete 12, Alban 11, Alcoriza 10, Villoria 9, Meca 6, Dela Cruz 4, Concepcion 4, Sera Josef 3, Codiñera 2, Ongolo Ongolo 2, Santos 2, Abdurasag 0, Dela Torre 0, Sacramento 0. Quarterscores: 19-33; 37-41; 58-54; 82-65 Second Game (srs) San Sebastian 86 – Capobres 16, Bulanadi 14, Ilagan 13, Calisaan 10, Valdez 9, Are 7, Calma 6, Dela Cruz 4, Villapando 4, Sumoda 2, Desoyo 1, Arciaga 0
JRU 76 – Dela Virgen 14, Padua 13, Mendoza 8, Miranda 8, Ramos 8, Esguerra 7, Mallari 7, David 4, Santos 3, Bordon 2, Silvarez 2, Estrella 0, Aguilar 0, Dela Rosa 0 Quarterscores: 27-15; 51-34; 65-56; 86-76 Third Game San Beda 75 – Bolick 25, Mocon 14, Abuda 12, Tankoua 6, Soberano 5, Eugene 4, Nelle 3, Oftana 2, Canlas 2, Tongco 2, Cuntapay 0, Doliguez 0
CSB 69 – Leutcheu 22, Young 15, Haruna 10, Naboa 7, Dixon 6, Gutang 4, Carlos 3, Pasturan 2, Velasco 0, Domingo 0
Quarterscores: 15-24; 33-38; 52-52; 75-69