i TV Pinoy

Source: Philippine Star

-- The 2010 Smart-Abap National Open came to a close in this tree-dotted city Friday with a handful of boxers expected to clinch a slot in the national youth team.

Upon witnessing the grueling five-day tourney at the Puerto Princesa coliseum, the panel of national coaches was impressed with the performance of Davao del Norte’s Victorio Saludar and Mark Anthony Barriga, Davao City’s Engelbert Moralde, Misamis Oriental’s Albert Pagala and Bago City’s James Palicte, giving them a good chance of making the national youth squad that will see action in the Olympic qualifying tourney in Baku, Azerbaijan in April and the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympics in August.

The hard-hitting Saludar crushed Kevin James Gob of Tayabas City with 1:35 left in the first round to capture the youth boys’ bantamweight crown while Barriga won over Albert Sumugat of Palawan A, 21-5, to rule the junior boys’ pinweight class.

Moralde clobbered Jeff Rodriguez of Puerto Princesa C, 12-3, to win the junior boys’ light flyweight title while Pagala and Palicte dominated Mario Fernandez of Ablayan, Bukidnon, 18-4, and Robert Tompong of Palawan A, 15-9, to conquer the junior boys’ flyweight and bantamweight titles, respectively.

“These are the boxers that we’re looking at,” said RP Team head coach Pat Gaspi, who watched at the sidelines along with fellow mentors Roel Velasco, Boy Catolico and Romeo Brin.

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines needs five boxers in the boys and nine from the girls division to complete the squad.

Davao del Norte of Cong. Anton Lagdameo copped the overall title with six gold, one silver and five bronze medals.

The other winners:

Junior: Niel John Tabanao of Davao del Norte (light bantamweight), Mark Vincent Fernandez of Tagbilaran City (featherweight ), Jhon Merced of Puerto Princesa C (pinweight), Glen Cantaveros of Davao del Norte (light flyweight), Jolan Bughanoy of Davao del Norte (flyweight), Carlo Suelo of Palawan A (featherweight), Jheritz Chavez of Mandaluyong (lightweight), Dennis Galvan of Bago City (welterweight).

Kids: Ian Jan Fabia of Puerto Princesa City B (kiddie weight), Romel Tunacao of Mandaue City (cotton), Rafael Jalnaiz of Misamis Oriental (vacuum), Robert Miguel Jalnaiz of Misamis Oriental (ant weight), Arville Olaivar of Tagbilaran (minimum) and Ronnel Tagmolia of Bago City (powder)

Boys: Michael Bahena of Bago City (light mosquito)), Elimir Marcial (mosquito), Joven Labordo of Bacolod City (light paper), Alvin Sibugan of Bacolod City (paper), Cholen Albago of Bago City (light pin), Geo Rafa of Tayabas City (pin), John Bryan Noces of Calinan, Davao (light fly) and Joshua de Vero of Bamban, Tarlac (bantam).