Mandaue pugs sail off for ABAP slugfest

CEBU, Philippines - Four promising simonpures from Cebu’s fabled ALA Boxing Gym will represent Mandaue City to the 2010 National Youth Amateur Boxing Championships, which will start on Monday in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. They are Richard Rama (26 kgs.), Rommel Tuñacao (28 kgs.), Rheson Tarona (30 kgs.) and Jeffrey Stella (32 kgs.)

The Mandaue squad of coach Peter Cuizon is set to leave for Palawan today so they can still have some time to adjust to a new environment especially that all four of them are first timers in a national competition.

Although it’s been a bit late when they were given the go signal by the city government of Mandaue to participate in the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP)-organized tilt, Cuizon expressed confidence on his wards’ chances of bringing home medals because of the rigid training they went through.

“They kept on fighting here but it’s really a different thing when your opponent is from other place. But let’s see, I’m confident we can win a gold,” Cuizon said.

Talisay and Cebu City, meanwhile, begged off from the five-day slugfest due to varied reasons. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol   (FREEMAN NEWS)