Header Ads Widget

Northern Mindanao takes six golds in Palaro boxing

JE Palivino led the cast of medalists in the youth flyweight division of the Palarong Pambansa boxing competition. Ivan Saldajeno
By Ivan Saldajeno

VIGAN--Northern Mindanao reigned supreme in the Palarong Pambansa boxing competition after capturing six wins during finals night at Plaza Burgos on Friday.

Northern Mindanao, mainly composed of pugs from Cagayan De Oro, is actually 6-0 in the matches where it is involved.

Jericho Acaylar opened the night by beating Lester Yanis of Davao Region in the pinweight division final.

Joshua Odvina continued the trend for Northern Mindanao by knocking out JJ Amores of MIMAROPA in the school boy junior bantamweight championship bout, the lone finish of the card.

DB Caspe added a third gold for Northern Mindanao after beating JD Villaverde of SOCCSKSARGEN in the school boy bantamweight division championship, while JE Palivino made it 2-0 for Northern Mindanao against the boxing hotbed region by beating Jayson Brillo in the youth boy flyweight category.

Sandwiched between the two Northern Mindanao wins against SOCCSKSARGEN was Mark Durens' victory over NCR's Glenn Duman-ag in the youth light flyweight title bout.

Wesly Caga completed the Northern Mindanao domination by edging Jerald Fabricante of Davao Region in the youth boy lightweight final. In effect, Northern Mindanao is also 2-0 against Davao Region.

Another Davaoeno boxer, KD Macaangga, fell short of the gold too, losing to Billy Naelgas of MIMAROPA in the junior welterweight final, the main event of the night.

Davao Region will still go home with a gold from boxing as Christian Betonio defeated Johifer Gaki of CAR in the school boy flyweight final.

Another team with a gold and silver to its pocket is Central Visayas, with Gerwin Asilo taking the gold after winning over Western Visayas' Charles Con-el in the youth boy bantamweight championship and Eduardo Jimenez settling for the silver after bowing to Eastern Visayas' Salvador Caasi.

However, the night belonged to Naelgas, who was named the best boxer of the tournament.

Naelgas received a pair of boxing gloves from Adidas and a push-up equipment as reward for his brilliance.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno