PH female pugs shut out Sri Lankans

CARMEN, Bohol—the Philippine women’s team stamped its class over Sri Lanka, 4-0, in their dual match that preceded the opening regular bouts of the 2012 PLDT-ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championships yesterday at the municipal gym of this town noted for its Chocolate Hills.

Josie Gabuco, gold medalist in the 2011 Indonesia Southeast Asian Games, started the Filipinos’ onslaught when she trounced Kasala Nalminis, 14-8, in their light flyweight tussle.

Gabuco capped her overpowering show by staggering Nalminis with a left hook midway in the fourth and final round for a standing count.

Featherweights Janice Vallares, SEA Games silver medalist Nesty Petecio and Ricalene Aquino also hurdled their respective rivals with ease.

Vallares subdued Sitari Sadaceka, 12-9; Petecio outclassed Nilmani Sayasinhe, 115; and Aquino repulsed Shiromala Wedathane, 10-7.

Light flyweight Alice Kate Aparri, also a SEAG gold medalist, beat compatriot Irish Magno, 9-4, in another bout that spiced up the opening rites of the four-day tournament organized by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines and supported by PLDT.

Present during the brief inaugural rites in this town, 57 kilometers north of Tagbilaran City, were Abap president Ricky Vargas, secretary general Patrick Gregorio and executive director Ed Picson.

Also in attendance were Carmen Mayor Conchita “Che” Toribio delos Reyes, gradddaughter of 1932 Olympic high jump bronze medalist Simeon Toribio, and Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Li.

Vargas, also the Maynilad president, said the holding of the tournament here is in consonance with Abap’s commitment to grassroots development.

“Abap makes sure we go to the country-

side to be able to flush out raw talent that would have otherwise been left unnoticed,” said Vargas.

“I am confident we will see a lot of potential here.”

A total of 140 boxers divided among 25 teams are seeing action in the four-day event which will hold its second batch of matches today in Maribojoc town. The last two days will be held in Tagbilaran.

Mindanao is well-represented here by Davao del Norte, Zamboanga, General Santos, Camiguin, Manolo Fortich, Misamis Oriental, Sarangani, Cabadbaran, Gingoog, Asuncion, Adlayan and Datu Puti.

The Visayan teams are Mandaue, Cebu City, Negros Occidental, Bago, Dumaguete, Northern Samar, Leyte, Maasin and host Tagbilaran.

Mandaluyong spearheads the Luzon contingent also composed of Team Buddy Andrada, Puerto Princesa and Tayabas, Quezon.