The Rep. Antonio Floirendo-handled Panabo City team sent 15 finalists in the Youth division (five Kids, two School Boys, five Cadet and three Juniors) while the Gina Marquez squad, composed of nationals, put four in the Women’s finals, including Asian Champion Mitchelle Martinez.
Martinez was scheduled to face Ofelia Brin, wife of three-time Olympian Romeo Brin, Saturday night in the lone lightweight clash in the weeklong slugfest organized by Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) headed by Manny Lopez and supported by the city government of Puerto Princesa through Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn.
Sandro Buaquen and Francis Cutamora (junior lightweight), Michael Wesceslao (junior lightpaper), Mark Anthony Barriga (Kids 26 kgs), Randolf Bagood and Juvel Paglinawan (Kids light cotton), Rodel Riño (Kids cotton) and Radjie Tabanao (light kiddie) all prevailed Friday night to fan Panabo City’s stong bid.
Gina Marquez’s Ana Lisa Cruz defeated Jerome Lee Ocon of Bautista in a referee stopped contest-outscored after 1:58 in the first round to join finalists and teammates Martinez, Annie Albania (flyweight) and Johren Dela Rosa (feather).
The win enabled the 21-year-old Cruz to forge a duel with Palawan’s Jonna Nazareno, who drew a preliminary-round bye.
"Jabs nga lang ang ginawa ko kasi gusto sana naming patagalin ang laban para masayahan naman ’yung audience kaya lang hindi na rin inabot ng second round," said Cruz, a double gold medalist in the recently concluded Dual Meet in Sri Lanka.
Josie Gabuco of Palawan delivered the highlight win of the night when she defeated a senior on the RP and one of the pioneer female boxer in the country, Alice Cate Aparri, on points to advance in the pinweight (48 kgs) finals against Gretchen Abaniel of Puerto Princesa-A.
"Pressure lang ang ginawa ko, sinundan ko siya kahit saan siya magpunta saka sinipagan ko lang ng suntok," said Gabuco, also a gold medalist in the Sri Lanka dual meet. "Factor din ’yung hindi naman ito ang natural weight ni Alice, dati siyang 48 kgs."
Other finalists were Baguio’s Jennifer Peking (women’s fly) and Ronijen Sofla (feather); Cotabato’s Romshane Sarguilla (Kids 26 kgs); PPC’s Lorenz Tesorio (cotton); Dany Daygon of Sarangani (light Kiddie); Cotabato’s Darwin Pedregosa and Zamboanga’s Jayson Borleo (Kiddie); Cotabato’s Jomer Lumacad and PPC’s John Merced (light cotton); Jesame Azucena of Mandaluyong; and Samar’s Gino Guardarama (bantam).
