Cotabato boxers shine in Gold Smart-ABAP Championship

KIDAPAWAN, Philippines - Three young boxers from North Cotabato earned medals in the youth category of the recent Smart-ABAP National Open Amateur Boxing Championships in Bacolod City. One boxer, Gilbert Gonzales of M’lang, was even recruited to join the Philippine national boxing team. Leading the charge of the North Cotabato boxers was 16-year-old Joemer Lumacad, also of M’lang, who took gold in the light flyweight (48 kg) division via a win over Michael Borja of General Santos City. Arnold Gepollano, 16, of Midsayap, also gunned for gold after defeating his opponents in the earlier rounds of the competition in the featherweight (57 kg) division. He however had to settle for silver when he lost to Robin Palileo in their finals match. Gonzales meanwhile had to settle for bronze after losing on points in his silver medal match against Filipino-Australian Jherits Chavez of Laguna in the lightweight (60 kg) division. The 16-year-old Gonzales impressed officials of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) with his overall performance in the tournament, and is being offered a slot in the national boxing team. Gonzales, scored a couple of KO victories over his opponents in the earlier rounds of the tournament. Lumacad, Gepollano and Gonzales are products of a grassroots boxing program, “Paboksing Para sa Masa,” started in 1998 by then Governor Manny Piñol (now vice governor of the province). The program involved the conduct of amateur boxing competitions during village and town fiestas where barefoot kids are allowed to trade punches for three rounds with the winner receiving P100 and the loser P50. Winners who are recruited into the provincial team enjoy the benefit of a free high school education. This program was further strengthened with the services of Cuban coach Honorato Espinosa in 2004. Espinosa, who holds the honor of coaching the Cuban team that won the country's first Olympic gold medal in Munich, improved the instructional capabilities of local trainers who continue to oversee the development of local amateur talents. Among the outstanding “Paboksing Para Sa Masa” alumnus now campaigning in the professional ranks is bantamweight prospect and former national amateur team member Rolando Magbanua, 23, of Pigcawayan town. Undefeated in 13 fights with eight knockouts, Magbanua takes on Mexico's Jose Angel Cota in a 12-round interim championship bout for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 118-lb. title Feb. 21 at the Mandaue Sports Center in Mandaue City, Island of Cebu . Also counted among the programs top products are bantamweight Glenn Porras, 23 of M’lang (18 wins, 12 KOs,2 losses); Salinas-California-based featherweight Glenn Gonzales, 23 (8 wins, 1 draw, 4 KOs); featherweight Lorenzo Villanueva, 22, of Midsayap town (undefeated 12 wins, 12 KOs); jr. flyweight Edrin Dapudong, 22 of M'lang (16 wins, 12 KOs, 2 losses); miniflyweight Rommel Asenjo, 19, of Pigcawayan (11 wins, 2 losses, 9 KOs) and jr. flyweight Jermie Jabel, 20, also of Pigcawayan (9 wins, 1 draw, 7 KOs). - Williamor Magbanua, GMANews.TV