RP trainees get to q'finals of National Open Boxing

Albert Pabila, Violito Payla, Marvin Samodio, and Orlando Tacuyan – all members of the national training pool – hurdled their quarterfinals assignments Wednesday night in the 2007 Smart National Open Boxing Championships being held in Cagayan de Oro City. The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) announced the latest results in a statement issued on Thursday. According to the ABAP statement, Pabila (Philippine Navy/Bago City) outclassed Frederick de la Cruz (Davao City-B) in a referee-stopped-contest (RSC) in light flyweight division of the week-long tournament, which takes place in front of the Misamis Oriental Capitol. Pabila had his morale boosted by his earlier win over Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Harry Tanamor of Philippine Army (PA) team. Payla (PA), a gold medalist in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, defeated Cebu City's Rhiel Mandate in another RSC contest in the 51-kilogram class marred by an upset earlier in the day. Lyhven Salazar, a senior member of training pool and Pabila's teammate, fell prey to Rey Saludar of Davao Del Norte-A, losing miserably on points, 36-48, in a big upset in the flyweight category. Payla and Saludar thus advanced to the semifinals, along with Hopewell Galupo of Malaybalay, Bukidnon-A and Joemel Bilbar of Talisay, Negros Occidental, who both won on points over their rivals. Galupo defeated PN/Bago City's Elman Vicera 23-14, while Bilbar prevailed over Malaybalay's Fred Rodriguez, 23-20. But the day definitely belonged to featherweight Orlando Tacuyan of Angeles City who produced the quickest win as he made his way to the semifinals. Tacuyan, fast-rising son of a former boxer from Angeles City, took only 46 seconds to size up Rey Enoc of the Baguio Team before the referee stopped the fight. "Kayang-kaya ang kalaban. Walang problema, kaya madali lang yung laba," the 19-year Tacuyan said, hardly sweating as he went down the ring to meet the sports writers covering the annual slug fest. "Masaya po, kasi nasa medal round na, pero hindi pa rin po tayo nakakasiguro sa gold kasi marami pa rin ang malakas sa division na ito," added Tacuyan, who also upset Joan Tipon early in the eliminations. Tacuyan, who has been with the training pool for four years, is pointing at Suarez of Davao Del Norte-A as most likely to give him a tough fight. Also advancing to the semifinals were Davao Del Norte's Charly Suarez, Argie Laput, and Vergil Basadre who were just as impressive in their victories in the featherweight division. Suarez won on points over PN/Bago City-A's Junel Cantancio 32-22 and Laput won over Paston Sombrio of Camiguin T.B. Team via retirement at the start of the second round. Hometown bet Basadre turned back Emerson Moroco of Meycauayan, Bulacan, via RSC-Outclassed. Also advancing to the semifinals in pinweight division (45 kg.) were North Cotabato's Rey Mercado, PN/Bago City's Bill Vicera, Davao Del Norte-A's Richie Bejec, and Zubiri Boxing Team's Michael Paragoso. Save for Behec, all of them won via referee stopped contests. Behec won on points over Marlon Dalanta of Gingoog City, 35-15. - GMANews.TV