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CAGAYAN
DE ORO—Another national boxer bound for the Chicago
World Championships fell to an understudy from the
national pool.
Philippine Navy-Bago City’s Albert Pabila delivered the
second upset in the Smart-Amateur Boxing Association of
the Philippines (ABAP) National Open Championships,
shocking Olympian Harry Tañamor in their light-flyweight
bout at the Misamis Oriental Capitol grounds.
The
22-year-old Pabila won via double countback, securing a
3-2 win by points against Tañamor, his first victory
against the Asian Games silver medalist in their four
meetings.
“Kahit
papaano nadagdagan ang kumpiyansa ko sa panalong ito,”
said Pabila, who has been in the national training pool
for four years but has yet to fight in the biggest
stages like Olympics and World Championships.
Just the
other night, Joan Tipon, who like Tañamor is headed to
Chicago this month for the first Beijing Olympic
qualifier, absorbed a stinging loss to the promising
Orlando Tacuyan Jr., 24-26, in their featherweight
encounter.
This one
was also a close decision as the judges had their scores
tied at 62-all in the first countback, 104-104 in the
second then used the manual system with Pabila getting
the nod of the three of the five judges.
“One of
the best fights I’ve ever seen in amateur boxing,” said
ABAP secretary-general Roger Fortaleza. “The judges
really had the hard time kung kanino ibibigay ang
panalo.”
Despite
the setback, the 29-year old Tañamor seemed not
disturbed as like Tipon, he did not have ample time to
prepare for this tournament.
“Exposure lang talaga ang habol namin dito,” said
Tañamor, an Army sergeant from Sugbangan Narra Road,
Zamboanga City.
“Halos
hindi pa ako nakaka-recover mula sa
tournament sa
Czech Republic.
Pero wala ’yun [loss]. Ngayon lang naman siya
nanalo sa akin,” added Tañamor, a back-to-back gold
medalist in the Southeast Asian Games.
Also
advancing in the 48-kg division were Marvin Samodio of
Baguio City, who won by points over Zamboanga del
Norte’s Josel Gamalo, 5-0; and Christopher Bejec of
Davao del Norte-A who retired Romulo Gio of Malaybalay,
Bukidnon in the last 42 seconds of the second round.
Meanwhile, Philippine Army’s Godfrey Castro assured
himself of a bronze medal after topping Jay-R Quiam of
Elorde Boxing Team, 8-5, to advance to the semifinals of
the 55- kg (bantamweight) division.
“May
ibubuga rin siya [Quiam], mabilis at matangkad
pero nakipagsabayan na ako sa kanya kasi pakiramdam ko
mas magaling at mas malakas ako sa kanya,” said the
22-year old Castro, bronze medalist in the 2006 Doha
Asian Games.
National
team member Joegen Ladon of PN/Bago City-A stopped local
bet Lestriano Tapcine of Misamis Oriental via
referee-stopped contest-outclassed (RSC-O) at the 43
seconds mark of the third round of their lightweight
bout to move to the next round where a tough opponent
awaits in Rene Villaluz of PN/Bago City-C, a 25-18
winner over Ric Anthony Macas of Manolo Fortich,
Bukidnon team.
“Featherweight talaga ako pero okay lang.
Gusto ko talagang mapansin ng coaching staff
para makasama sa SEA Games sa
Thailand,” said
the 26-year-old Ladon, a silver medalist in the last
2005 SEA Games.
Jhenisis
Chavez of
Marikina
City
also won via RSC-O in 1:15 mark of the second round
against Iligan City’s Rosel Gedano in another
lightweight bout. Genebert Basadre of Philippine Army
also breezed through the next round, easily disposing of
Roberto Vito del Rosario of PN/Bago City-C via RSC-O in
1:42 of the opening round.
In the
bantamweight division, Misamis Oriental’s Jayson Cabrera
knocked out Jamel Lumar in the third round while
Sorsogon-A’s Roel Laguerta won over Jayson Maniagas of
Cebu City via RSC-H (head blows).
Marlon
Villacanas of Davao del Norte-B also made it to the next
stage with a 23-13 win over Joseph Banaag of Sorsogon-B
in the 54-kg class and Christopher Saron of Davao del
Norte-B defeated Henry Acha of Malaybalay, Bukidnon,
15-12.
In the
featherweight class, Peter Navarro of Misamis Oriental-B
booked an 18-4 win over provincemate Ricky Ablasa of
Team B, while Ruel Apog of Davao del Norte-A scored an
RSC-O win over Iligan City’s Rhamier Gonzales at the
56-second mark of the first round. |
