Members and officials of the RP women’s boxing team whoop it up after (L-R) Annie Albania, Josie Gabuco, and Alice Aparri won gold medals in the 25th SEA Games in Laos. (Photo by ALBERT GARCIA)

VIENTIANE – Three women boxers gave a world-class exhibition of speed and power Wednesday to hand the Philippines a perfect 3-of-3 start in the finals of the 25th Southeast Asian Games.

Annie Albania, the reigning Asian Indoor Games flyweight champion, capped a big day for RP boxing by stopping Indri Sambaimana of Indonesia in the second round.

The Indonesian appeared intimidated by Albania’s reputation and rarely threw a punch as the Filipina probed her defense with combinations.

A solid right staggered Sambaimana who received a standing eight count from the referee. Another Albania barrage forced the referee to step in for another standing count.

The Indonesian survived the first by covering her head and body, but did not last long enough.

Albania unleashed another furious attack in the second that forced the referee to stop the contest.

The Indonesian clapped as the referee raised Albania’s hand.

Earlier, pinweight Josie Gabuco and light flyweight Alice Kate Aparri pulled off contrasting wins to nail the country’s first two gold medals.

Gabuco shed a river of tears after escaping with a 6-5 verdict over Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Ho in a tightly-fought contest.

Evenly-matched, both fighters ended the first three rounds tied until Gabuco finished strongly to secure the win.

RP coaches thought the margin should have been bigger, but were happy nevertheless with the victory.

The most entertaining win came from Aparri who went after Laos’ Milvady Hongfa like a tiger on steroids.

A silver medalist in Thailand, Aparri did not let up in posting a 15-4 win that avenged the losses suffered by flyweight Rey Saludar and welterweight Joegin Landon Tuesday.

RP team manager Ed Picson credited the women’s success to coaches Roel Velasco and Boy Catolico.

“The coaches did a terrific job preparing the women,” Picson said.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas, who watched the fights with predecessor Manny Lopez, hugged Gabuco after placing the gold medal around her neck.

“We’re very happy with the victories, but there are three more fights left,” said Vargas. “I was inside the dugout and told the women to forget the medals. Just do your best and the gold will come and I invited them to pray.”

Vargas inherited the association that came under fire for its failure to produce a medal in the Beijing  Olympics last year.

The men climbed the ring Thursday hoping to duplicate the women’s three gold medals.

Two-time Olympian Harry Tañamor, featherweight Charly Suarez, and pinweight Bill Vicera try to complete a six-gold medal sweep against separate opponents.

Tañamor gets the most difficult assignment in Thai Kaeo Pongprayoon, the same guy who has defeated Vicera in the past.

Suarez battles Cambodian Phal Sophatg while Vicera takes on Sikham Vongpakhoun.