Gabuco, Aparri join 2 others in finals

PALEMBANG – Josie Gabuco and Alice Kate Aparri scored massive wins against Indonesian rivals and joined Nesthy Petecio and Dennis Galvan in the finals of the boxing competitions last night at the Baskethall in downtown Palembang.

Gabuco, the Southeast Asian Games pinweight champion ignored the chants and cheers of a boisterous hometown crowd as she completely dominated Indonesian Appliany Pricil to reach the gold medal round of her division in the women’s boxing competitions.

In the other semifinal bout, Aparri, bidding for her third crown since 2005, also silenced Indonesian fans as she subdued Selly Wanimbo, 18-8, in a strong followup to her quarterfinal conquest of a Laotian.

Aparri goes into the final round against the winner in the semifinal bout between Vietnamese Trinh Thi Diem and Laotian Phaisavane Nok.

Gabuco was in control of the bout from start to finish, connecting with effective combinations to the head and body to score the easy win.

Gabuco, who won the same event in the 2009 Laos SEA Games, and Aparri joined compatriot Petecio who drew a bye into the final round against Thai Peamwliai Laope, and Galvan who  crushed Malaysian Khir Akyazlan in the semifinals Wednesday.

The three were the only women boxers remaining in the four-woman team following the  loss of Analisa Cruz to Thai Sopida Satumrum (15-12) in the flyweight quarterfinals.

Galvan will face Indonesian Afdan Bachtila of Indonesia in the medal round Sunday.

Also scheduled to fight in today’s semifinals are Charly Suarez against Saylom Ardee of Thailand in the lightweight class and Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar against Indonesian Julio Bria in the flyweight section.

Thailand, the team to beat for the overall crown in boxing, has sent all 10 boxers to the next round. They are Sayoom Ardee (lightweight), Chstchaibutdee (flyweight),  Kaeo Ponprayoon (light flyweight), Manus Boonjummon (middleweight), Worapoj Petchkoo (bantamweight), Apichet Saensit (welterweight) and women entries  Peamwliailaope (bantamweight), Tassamalee Thong (featherweight), Sopida Satumrum (flyweight) and  Supadorn Seesond (lightweight).