Banal hangs tough to win boxing gold

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Philippines – Mandaue City’s Hipolito Banal Jr. survived Davao del Norte’s John Patrick Dinolan’s late fightback to hack out a 12-8 decision and clinch the boys’ light flyweight gold medal in the PLDT-ABAP National Boxing Championships at the Maasin City Gym here last night.

The 15-year-old Banal, youngest brother of WBO bantamweight contender AJ, dominated the opening round with 1-2 combinations, giving him a four-point cushion early before hanging tough to frustrate Dinolan’s late, desperate attack in the last two rounds.

Banal, a first year high school student at Kabankalan National High School, leaned on that 5-1 start to beat Dinolan, with the last two rounds going 2-2 and 5-5.

“I knew I was leading in the first round and he (Dinolan) was desperate in the last two rounds so I just kept my focus,” said Banal, who hopes to make it to the national team, make the Olympics and win a medal.

Banal’s teammate Jeffrey Estella made it a double celebration for Mandaue as he pulled off a come-from-behind victory over Himamaylan’s Mario Bautista via countback for the pinweight gold.

Estella trailed, 3-6, after the first two rounds but rallied in the last round to force a 9-9 count. After a countback, Estella led, 52-50, in all five judges’ scorecards to seal the dramatic win.

Equally impressive on the final day of this event bankrolled by PLDT and Smart and the Maasin City government headed by Mayor Mahoney Samaco were Davao del Norte’s Michael John Bahena and Misamis Oriental’s Presco Carcosia.

Bahena, a 16-year-old product of the Panabo boxing team that produced 2012 London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga, used his sheer power to overwhelm Tagbilaran’s Kenneth Paul Gentalla, 16-4, and top the boys’ flyweight division.

Carcosia, a 16-year-old senior at Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School and fighting for a team sponsored by Gov. Oscar Moreno, had a relatively easy time in beating Bago City’s Levawil Savines, 23-8, to reign supreme in the boys’ light bantamweight category.

It was Bahena’s eighth gold medal, including three in the National Youth Championships and a pair in the Batang Pinoy while Carcosia posted his second triumph after a win in the National Championships two years ago in Cagayan de Oro.

Both fighters dream to make it to the national team.

“I hope I could be big someday, but first I want to fight for the national team,” said Bahena.

“I just want to be in the national team,” said Carcosia.

General Santos, a city known for its stable of boxing champions like Rolando Navarrete and Manny Pacquiao, had its share of victories as local boy Angelou Plania defeated Misamis Oriental’s Marquil Salvana, 14-7, to clinch the boys’ bantamweight mint.

In girls’ action, Bago City’s Jossa Santestiban outboxed Misamis Oriental’s Shermae Jacinto, 37-23, to rule the bantamweight class while General Santos’ Alexcel Dargantes won over Tayabas’ Jell Ann Nantes via first round RSC (referee-stopped contest) for the light fly gold.

Maasin City’s Ruby Nicanor edged Leizel Mae Alde, 9-5, to give the host city its first golden moment to the delight of the big, loud-cheering crowd that packed the huge venue.