Four Cebuano pugs march into final in ABAP tourney

ORMOC City, Philippines – One of the highly-anticipated match-ups between Bago City and Cebu City ended the way it was expected to end as Rogen Ladon stopped Cebuano fighter Rodel Yap right in first round during the semifinals of the ongoing 1st Smart/ABAP Visayas Area Amateur Boxing Championships in this City.

Campaigning in the Junior Boys’ 48 kgs. class, both Ladon and Yap entered the semis by stopping their respective elimination round foes Tuesday evening held in the town of Kananga.

The southpaw Ladon pressured the lanky Yap from the opening bell then later on floored the Cebuano with a strong left straight, forcing the referee to call a halt to the bout at 1:27 of the 1st round. Ladon was set to get tougher challenge from another taller fighter in Espiridon Pubadura of Iloilo in the finals as of press time last night.

Cebu, however, had every reason to celebrate as four other fighters entered the finals in striking fashion.

13-year-old prospect Jack Tepora of Cebu City- A outshone local pride Feljun Tadeo with a 12-2 points win in their 38.5-40 kgs. battle, while Edu Serrano of Cebu City - B entered the championship with a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) - Outclassed over Jason Redondo of Ormoc at :21 of the third round in their 50 kgs. bout.

Anthony Sabalde of Cebu City escaped with a 26-20 points win over Neil Bryan Unay of Northern Samar in their 48 kgs. Youth Boys face off as Danlou Codilla of Cebu City-A advanced with a walkover win over Cebu City-B’s Joselito Pena in a 41.5-43KG clash.

Still, Bago City left the Ormoc City Plaza unscathed with Kids Division’s 30 kgs. campaigner Neil Tambanillo decisioning Northern Samar’s John Michael Giray, 20-1, and fellow Kids Division fighter Ronnel Tagamolila outpunching Aladin Figueroa of Bacolod City in their 29 kgs. bout.

Gedlon Cordova joined his fellow Bago City fighters in the championship round with an RSC-O over Aehman Sadiva of Iloilo at 1:20 of the second canto.

Other winners include Alvin Sibugan of Bacolod over Idelfonso Manzano, Jr. of San Carlos City (17-10); Espiridion Pubadura of Iloilo over Michael Duazo of N. Samar (18-15) and Jason Concepcion of N. Samar who won via RSC against Angelito Morales of Ormoc City at 1:24 of the third round.

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP), headed by its chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas, supervised and organized the event.

Overseeing the Visayas elimination is ABAP executive director Ed Picson, who traces his roots from nearby city Tacloban and the town of Hindang in Leyte. Secretary-general Patrick Gregorio arrived in Ormoc City Thursday.

Tournament benefactors Ormoc City Mayor Eric Codilla and brother Elmer Codilla who is the mayor of Kananga town, joined the ABAP executives in witnessing the championship bouts of each division. -  THE FREEMAN