MVP Cup: Pinoy boxers beat Thai counterparts

There’s no stopping Team Philippines from ruling the the 1st MVP International Boxing Friendship Cup at the PICC Forum Tent Sunday. The hosts bagged eight gold medals (five women and three men), five silvers and six bronzes in the inaugural meet presented by PLDT and featured 58 men and women boxers from seven Asian countries. Thailand came in second with three gold medals, four silvers and three bronzes. The women’s team went a perfect 5-for-5 with Annie Albania, Josie Gabuco, Alice Kate Aparri, Nesty Petecio and Analisa Cruz winning the gold in their respective divisions. Albania, silver medalist in the 2008 World Boxing event in China, beat Peamwilai Laopeam of Thailand, 5-2, in the 51kgs. category; Gabuco clobbered Tu Fen Weng of Chinese Taipei, 10-1, in the 46kgs.; Aparri crushed Shiqi Xu of China, 2-0, in the 48kgs.; Petecio outclassed Weng Lin Cheng of Chinese Taipei, 24-4, in the 57kgs. and Cruz beat rookie Naome Tacda, 7-1, in the all-Filipino finals in the 54kgs. The men’s team, however, stood on less solid ground, although Charly Suarez, Joegin Ladon and Delfin Boholst did best against their respective Thai rivals. The eight gold medalists received $1,000 each from sportsman/businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines and PLDT-Smart. Suarez, 22, from Panabo, Davao, outclassed Athens Olympic silver medalist Worapoj Petchikoom, 7-4, in the 57 kgs.; Ladon clobbered Apichat Kulsri, 4-2, in the 60kgs.and Boholst edged Apichet Saensit, 4-3, in the 69kgs. Victorio Saludar, Gerson Nietes, Glicerio Catolico III and Jimmy Vallares were not lucky and lost to their respective rivals. Saludar of Team A, lost to China’s Zhongling Wu on points in the 48kgs,; Niestes bowed to Amnaj Ruenroeng of Thailand, 1-4, in the 51kgs.; Catolico succumbed to Donchai Thatl of Thailand, 1-7, in the 54kgs. and Vallares lost to Oacharija Haewsuno of Thailand, 0-2, in the 64kgs. Saludar and Wu finished the three-round encounter with similar six points. But the Chinese snatched the gold based on the individual scoring of the judges. ABAP president Ricky Vargas was elated with the performance of the RP boxers in the seven-nation event. “Charly Suarez was really fantastic in his performance. The other boxers, including the women, made good account of themselves," said Vargas. “You know the other boxers also performed well. These are products of ABAP grassroots program." Vargas also added that the boxers will get international exposure to keep them prepared for the major international events, including the Asian Games in November this year. “We will bring them to Finland and the United States to train for one month under Freddie Roach to sharpen their skills and gain enough international experience," he added. Gabuco’s impressive win in the first bout inspired Albania, Aparri, Cruz and Petecio, who matched the golden feat of the 22-year-old Puerto Princesa native by beating their respective rivals. - RCJ, GMANews.TV