Strong debut for RP lady boxers in Laos

The Philippine women’s boxing team debuted in style in the 25th Laos Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, capped by Alice Kate Aparri’s sensational first round knockout of his Asian champion opponent from Vietnam. Josie Gabuco set off the Filipino pugs’ campaign on a bright note by thumping Kyu Kyu Thin of Myanmar, 6-1, in their 46 kg (pinweight) match, before reigning Asian flyweight titlist Annie Albania put the icing on the cake with a similarly impressive 7-0 win over Hnin Moh Mo Naing of Myanmar in the 51 kg class.

With only four entries in her weight class, Gabuco is now in the gold medal round where she takes on Nguyen Thi Hoa of Vietnam on Dec. 14 (Monday). But it was the 25-year old Aparri who came through with the most remarkable win after making short work of Ngo Thi Phuong of Vietnam in just a single round of their light-flyweight (48 kg) contest. Ngo, 19, won the light-flyweight gold in the recent Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam, where Albania also triumphed. Leading 3-0 midway in the first round, Aparri came through with a powerful right hook that sent the young Vietnamese down the canvas and never recovered again. “Sana nga po, magtuluy-tuloy na ito," said Aparri, a bronze medalist in the 2006 World Women’s Boxing Championships in New Delhi. India. The victories by the three Filipino pugs shoved them into the semifinals of the meet that begins on Dec. 14. Mitchel Martinez, the other member of the four-man women’s team, already advanced to the Final Four after drawing a bye. Up next for the three Filipinas are their fearsome foes from Thailand. Aparri duels with Dueannapha Ngamlam, Martinez clashes with Peamwilai Laopeam and Albania fights Sopida Satumrum in a rematch of their Asian Indoor Games flyweight final. Meanwhile, two-time Olympian Harry Tanamor sees action Sunday as he guns for a shot at the gold in the men’s 48 kg class. The 31-year old Filipino will have Myanmar’s Htet Aung for an opponent. – GMANews.TV