National pug tows first round winners

BACOLOD City – RP team mainstay Godfrey Castro breezed through the first round of the 2009 Smart National Amateur Boxing Championship, overwhelming Jake Barbieto of Nueva Vizcaya in their bantamweight showdown here late Saturday.

Fighting before a hometown crowd that packed the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center, the 24-year-old Castro hammered out a RSC (referee stopped contest-outclassed) win in two minutes and 24 seconds of the first round.

“I hope I can keep up my form until the end of the tournament,” said the Cadiz City native, the 2006 Doha Asian Games bronze medalist.

Representing the Philippine Army, Castro will take on Rober Labrido of Navy, who trounced Jomel Tocoyo of the Navy B, in the next round, hoping to go all the way to the championship in the weeklong event supported by Smart, Philippine Sports Commission and Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella.

Fellow RP team mainstays middleweight Junie Tizon, welter Larry Semillano and lightweight Joegen Ladon, all representing the Navy, try to likewise hurdle their respective first round assignments today.

Flyweight Alice Kate Aparri of University of Baguio, featherweight Annie Albania of Army and welter Mitchel Martinez of host Bacolod City will banner the women’s side.

Focus will be on Albania, a gold medal winner in the 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games.

Light fly Harry Tañamor, who topped the World Cup last year in Moscow, Russia, begged off from competing in the event with a wrist injury.

“I would have loved to compete here because I still want to go to the Southeast Asian Games in Laos. But the injury I sustained in the World Cup hasn’t healed yet,” said the 20-year-old Zamboanga City native.

Tañamor, however, will cheer for 18-year-old brother Conrado, who is competing in the light fly juniors section, and nephew Josua, who is fighting in the pinweight division for 15 to 16 years old.

Other winners in the elite bantamweight class were Nelson Gonzaga of Bago City, Reggie Banaag of Masbate and Lhyuven Salazar of Navy.

Gonzaga won over Joash Aparicio of Bukidnon, Banaag over Ric Jason Ranida of Tayabas, Quezon and Salazar over Wilford Wade of Iligan City.

Manny Pacquiao’s teams General Santos and Sarangani likewise posted impressive triumphs.

Pacman Sarangani’s Landy Cris de Leon beat Belen Ranilo of Meycauyan, Bulacan in the elite bantamweight category.

Pacman Gensan’s Roldan Boncales defeated Eric Hulleza of Cadiz City in pinweight for 15-16 years old.

Host Bacolod City, which fielded in four teams, sent four pugs in the next round of junior light mosquito for boys over 13 years old.

Bacolod A’s Alvin Silungan slammed Tino Enderez of Negros Oriental, Bacolod B’s Arnulfo Toralba walloped Loren Aldiveral of Bacolod C, Bacolod C’s Rodrigo Eufre downed John Rey Saturnino of Guimbala, and Bacolod D’s Rocky Edano edged Jerome Pardo of Pacman Sarangani.