Cebu City pug ousted from ABAP slugfest in bizzare finish

DIGOS CITY, Philippines - Cebu City's Marco Pomar saw his medal hopes come to a bizzare end during the rain-delayed quarterfinal round of the PLDT-ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championships held at the public plaza on Friday evening.

Pomar took Jovane Casim of Cagayan de Oro City to school in the opening round, but the CDO puncher returned the favor in the second round to put the fight on equal footings at 19-all, going to the last round.

However, the match was stopped because of the rain waters that poured inside the ring, forcingthe judges to pick the winner. They picked Casim to advance to the semis.

Casim will face next Robert Paradero of Malaybalay City in Bukidnon for a spot into the gold medal round. Paradero meanwhile was the busier puncher when he defeated Jose Peldiguera jr. of Occidental Mindoro via 3-0 verdict.

In other bout, Mandaluyong City’s Jay-R Arcilla kept his hopes for the gold medal alive following a split decision against Isagani Llaban of Cagayan de Oro City.

The match was close all the way, but after three action-packed rounds, Arcilla was able to get a 29-28 tally from Rosevic Abeto and Guillermo Retiban of Bacolod City while Llaban eked out a 29-28 win from Jilma Maraon of Maasin City, for a 2-1 victory in the youth boys light flyweight division.

 He was fighting for a slot for the gold medal round against John Paul Bentoso of Pacman team who eliminated Fernel Gaspi of Sorsogon via 3-0 decisioin.

Others winning their respective matches were Rennie Boy Ferraren of Zamboanga by unanimous decision over John Mark Escoton of Leyte and  John Ednel Prevenido of Calingan by walkover against Gemar Bulacuena of Saranggani; Clear Suarez of Pacman, who eliminated teammate Dhan Ariel Adolfo by TKO on the second round and J-Mar Jaga of Bago City, who escaped with a 2-1 win over Joe Paul John Tanudra of Cebu City in the school boys paperweight (44kgs.) division.

Also, Chriz Sander Laurente of Pacman team defeated Mark Magas of Sorsogon via 3-0 win, Marvin Pomar of Cebu City won by unanimous decision against Edgar Gaviola of Pacman, Carlo Paalam of CDO bid goodbye to his teammate Samuel Salva with a 3-0 win and Jonjie Maritana of Tayabas, Quezon pulled an equally eked a 3-0 victory over Romie Evale of Maasin City in the junior boys pinweight (46kgs.) division. (FREEMAN)