MisOr pugs score; Zambo lifters reign

NAGA CITY, Philippines – Brothers Roberto Miguel and Rafael Jalnaiz came away with a pair of impressive victories as Misamis Oriential dominated boxing while Zamboanga reigned in weightlifting at the close of the Batang Pinoy at the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary here yesterday.

Roberto Jalnaiz, 14, topped the paperweight division while Rafael, 13, took the minimumweight crown as the sons of 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympic veteran Roberto Jr. bolstered their bid for spots in the national team vying in the 2014 World Youth Olympics in China.

Roberto Miguel used his height and reach advantage to overwhelm a smaller Cebu pug Hipolito Banal Jr., younger brother of former WBO Asia Pacific Youth super flyweight titlist AJ “Bazooka,” with a 9-1 win while Rafael scored a second round stoppage of Tayabas’ EJ Nares.

“I’ve trained them for four years now and I think they’re ready to compete internationally,” said the elder Jalnaiz, a 1990 Beijing Asian Games gold medalist who bowed to 1992 Barcelona Games golden boy Joel Casamayor of Cuba in the quarterfinals.

It was sweet revenge for Roberto Miguel, who got back at Banal, who beat him in last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Tarlac City.

“I lost to him before because I was overconfident,” said Jalnaiz in Filipino, referring to the 14-year-old Banal, an elementary student in Kabankalan. “But now I’m taller than him and I gave him respect.”

Thanks to the Jalnaiz wins plus the two silver medals from light pin Daniel Maamo and fly Fresco Cascosa, Misamis Oriental, which fielded in a 40-man contingent sponsored by Gov. Oscar Moreno, emerged boxing’s best performer followed by Panabo City, which copped two gold medals courtesy of antweight Ven Joshua Vanguardia and Michael John Bahena.

Traditional boxing power Cebu, coached and trained by former world champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa, settled for just one gold through light pin Junrel Jimenez. Other winners were Kit Ceron Garces of Talisay (mosquito weight), Mario Bautista of Himamaylan (light paperweight), Jessie Diaz of Tayabas (lightfly) and Angelou Plania of General Santos (flyweight).

Caloocan City’s Jamil Joseph Sebastian, son of the late former World, Asian and Southeast Asian weightlifting champion Jaime, shared the limelight by snaring the 44-kilogram gold in the weightlifting event ruled by the vaunted Zamboanga team, which hauled six gold medals.

Jamil Joseph’s father dominated the SEA Games from 1977 to 1989, collecting a whopping 21 gold medals in seven consecutive meets. He was also named the strongest man in the region.

Other winners from Zamboanga were Elbert Atilano (46kg), Joseph Dinglasan (56kg), Rosaano Mendoza (40kg), John Kyle Macrohon (56kg), Patricia Ann Gregorio (48kg) and Lyann Pineda (+48kg).

Joining them in the podium are Bohol’s Ellen Rose Perez (44kg), Pasay’s Edwin Lucero (50kg) and Manila’s Darryl Ann Ancuelo (36kg),

Baguio City, meanwhile, stamped its class in wrestling, raking in eight gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.

 The event was organized by the Philippine Sports Commission including Chito Loyzaga and Jolly Gomez, who personally oversaw the meet from the regionals up to the nationals, and sponsored by Smart, Maynilad and supported by Milo, Jollibee, Negros Navigation, Reliv, Standard Insurance, Manila Bulletin, British Council and Growee.