Six RP pugs make it to finals

HO CHI MINH (Via Globe Telecom) — Flyweight Harry Tañamor weathered Typhoon Thailand atop the ring and practically clinched the first boxing gold for the Philippines in the 22nd SEA Games with a clinical victory over old rival Suban Pannon at the Phan Dinh Phung Stadium here last night.

And five other Filipino fighters won their semifinal bouts in a rebirth of sort for Philippine boxing in the Games after a mere two-silver haul in Kuala Lumpur two years ago. (See related story on A-26)

Joan Tipon, fighting in the 54.kg category, and Florencio Ferrer, Jr., in the 60kg. class, outclassed Indonesian foes Urias Arenaldo Moniagaina (20-7) and Marwan Muling (21-10) to join Tañamor in the finals last night.

On Sunday night, Juanito Magliquian (45kg), Roel Laguna (57kg) and Mark Jason Melligen (64kg) pounded out contrasting victories to get into the title bout picture.

For Tanamor, the sure silver medal is very well likely to turn to gold Wednesday as he has a relatively light assignment in Rionando Butar Butar of Indonesia in the finals.

"Kay Tañamor na ang ginto, huwag lang siyang magkukumpiyansa," said RP coach Pat Gaspi. The other Filipino finalists are up against fancied Thai rivals.

overall championship," said RP team manager Ruben Roque.

As in their Busan Asian Games semifinal fight, Tañamor, 24, from Bacung, Negros Occidental, showed good footwork and perfectly-executed punching in outpointing Pannon, 24-13.

The Filipino Asiad silver medalist dealt the dreaded Team Thailand its first defeat in the Vietnam Games slugfest.

Magliquian took the short route as he came out like a raging bull, digging hard on young Vietnamese rivalLe Van Tri’s body and stopping the hometown bet and the hometown cheering just 28 seconds into the fight.

The Philippines dealt Vietnam another sorry defeat on the night as Laguna outpointed Nguyen Trung Kien, 20-11, much to the dismay again of the local spectators.

Melligen put up a good show as he boxed and weaved his way to a 28-10 demolition of Myanmar‚s Aung Thu Ya.

Team Philippines suffered its lone casualty Sunday as Fil-Am fghter Christopher Camat bowed to Thai foe Somchai Chimlum, 13-19.

Camat thought he fought good enough to beat the Thai reigning champion but the judges saw otherwise.

"Puro sa kamay ang tama ko. Isa lang ang naramdaman kong pumasok," said Camat.