Tanamor and Payla, two of the youngest boxers in the Team Caltex Philippines’ pool preparing for the coming Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, pulled through with contrasting quarterfinal wins before a huge and appreciative crowd at the Olympic Sports.
Tanamor, 20, and a native of Zamboanga City with a bronze medal in the 2001 World Championship in Ireland, turned Khaduri Zviadi of Georgia into a virtual punching bag en route to a 20-9 decision in the 48-kilogram division.
The 22-year-old Payla, on the other hand, struggled against Kumar Akhil of India in their 51-kg. duel which ended in a 16-16 count. The Cagayan de Oro native and winner of gold in the 2001 Roberto Balado Cup in Cuba earned a seat in the semifinals by throwing the most number of punches.
The two army men, under the special service command of Col. Manuel Mariano, climb the ring on Friday with Tanamor ranged against Azerbaijan’s Abiyev Djeyhun and Payla matched with Valid Sherif of Tunisia for the silver, and possibly gold, medals.
Reduced to the role of rooters were Romeo Brin, Anthony Igusquiza and Roel Laguna — three of the veteran members of the team supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Pacific Heights, Revicon and Adidas – who all suffered controversial losses.
Brin, two-time Olympian, punished Rustamov Intigam of Azerbaijan with crisp head and body shots in their 63.5 kgs. duel. The judges, however, saw otherwise.
Igusquiza, on the other hand, earned the nod of the crowd against Uzbekistan’s Seroglav Ildar in the 60 kgs. contest but also not the judges who scored it, 25-21, in favor of the latter.
Laguna lost to Gaudet Benoit of Canada in their 57 kgs. match that could have gone either way. But again, the Filipino took the raw end of the deal and lost, 10-11.
"Kalimutan na natin ’yung talo natin, wala na tayong magagawa. Ang importante ngayon ay pilitin nina Harry at Violito na makapag-uwi ng ginto para makabawi naman tayo sa pang-aapi sa mga bata natin," said Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines chairman emeritus Mel Lopez.
Lopez, who also personally handles a grand grassroots boxing program in behalf of ABAP, added he will meet with all the national coaches back home to remind them that competitions abroad are getting tougher.
"Marami pa tayong dapat na baguhin at ma-improve. May panahon pa para talagang handa tayo sa Asian Games.