Cebu City, Mandaue bets earn automatic final slots

CEBU, Philippines – Defending champion Team Cebu City (TCC) Niños are already assured of a silver and three bronze medals, while host Mandaue earned a final ticket and a sure bronze in the 2010 PLDT-ABAP Visayas Area Amateur Boxing Tournament, which kicked off with a bang the other day at the Mandaue City Plaza Square.

Since there are only two entries in the juniors 54 kgs. division, Cebu City's Rommel Acruz automatically advanced into the final round against a fighter from Bago City.

Acruz's two other teammates in 50 kgs. Jhack Tepora and 57 kgs. Ramjess Colina also guaranteed themselves of bronze medals after proceeding right away in the semifi-nals due to a lucky draw, in the same way with 64 kgs. Charlie Pocdol in the youth cate-gory.

On the other hand, Mandaue's last minute entry Charlie Traya felt he was the luckiest of them all as he earned the first championship ticket among the Mandauehanons through the juniors 60 kgs. class. He will take on a bet from Ormoc in the gold medal match.

Cabancalan, Mandaue's Rhian Canillas also barged into the 64 kgs. category semifinals without exuding sweat as well as John Danny Panit of TCC Team B in the 57 kgs. class.

It wasn't all lucky day for Cebu City as it suffered its first casualty in Anthony Coral, which dropped a 10-23 decision to Bago's Martin Cordova in the elimination round of the youth 46 kgs. division.

TCC-A's youth 46 kgs. entry Uelmark Dignos, however, made sure not to suffer Coral's fate by pulling off a 19-7 victory against Dumaguete's Raul Valencia, while 52 kgs. Jared Payao posted a low scoring 4-2 win over Maasin's Jason Enitia.

TCC-B's Jay Molijon moved up to the next round after taking away a 26-13 tri-umph over Boracay's Jovito Francisco.

Host Mandaue's Danlou Codilla showed some class in the youth 46 kgs. class as he needed only 19 seconds in the initial round to stop Cabancalan's Winmar Obar.

Maguikay, another team from Mandaue, also went off to a good start with its team A's 46 kgs. bet Christian Bacolod posting a 17-13 win against Sagay's Allen Oro, while its team B's 46 kgs. entry Richie Montealto earned a 24-17 win over Samar's Michael Duazo. Lorenz Romarate of Maguikay Team C scored a first round stoppage of Duma-guete's Uldric Ansoc due to head blows.

Cabancalan's Ferdie San Roque left the ring with an 8-2 win against Ormoc's Rogelio Pepito, Jr.

The rest of the opening day winners were Boracay's Raymond Salmingo, Ba-colod's Martin Cordova and John Paul Artieda, CBC's Jahil Ala, Maasin's Aldrin Mori, Northern Samar's Niel Bryan Unay and Tagbilaran's Lemar Kahulugan. (FREEMAN)