21 TEAMS JOIN PSC-PACQUIAO AMATEUR BOXING CUP

By LITO DELOS REYES

Supervising technical director Roger Fortaleza (left) with Sorsogon Province boxing coach Salvador Castillo.

Schedule of matches on Jan. 28 starting at 2 p.m. are:
Youth Boys Light Fly weight (46-49 kg.)
Francis Aya-ay (Iriga) vs. Reyel Azana (Gubat)
Darwin Boyones (Binan) vs. Chris delos Reyes (Juban)
Elmer Marbella (Sorsogon City) vs. Joel Lajota (Barcelona)
John Mark Dollentas (Prieto Diaz) vs. Ranger Bautista (Tuguegarao)
Ronald Quilano (Pili) vs. Jayson Hernandez (Camarines Norte)
Eddie Mapsusao (Camarines Sur) vs. C-Jay Ejera (Sorsogon Province)

One of the two boxing rings in the on-going PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup at the Sorsogon National High School covered court.

SORSOGON CITY (JAN 27) – Twenty-one teams with almost 100 boxers are seeing action in the Luzon Preliminaries of the on-going PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup, which started today at the Sorsogon National High School covered courts here.
The participatings teams are the early top-favorite Mandaluyong City, Baguio, Olongapo City, Binan City-Laguna, La Union, Legaspi City, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Tayabas Quezon,Tuguegarao City, Iriga City, Cadlan-Pili, Libon-Albay, Cambulaga, Castilla, Gubat, Bulan, Prieto Diaz, Barcelona, Sorsogon City and host Sorsogon Province.
The formal opening program was being held as of press time followed by the first eight bouts of the two-day event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the Office of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
Gov. Robert “Bobet” Lee Rodrigueza, Mayor Salle Lee and PSC Executive Director Sannah Frivaldo gave their inspirational messages after Vice Mayor Jonathan Balintong welcome the teams and guests.
“We could have gathered more than a hundred boxers if only the other teams were allowed by the DepEd to join this tournament,” said Supervising Tournament Director Rogelio Fortaleza.
The city’s officer-in-charge supervisor of the Department of Education here is preventing their students from joining the competition because of the coming Palarong Pambansa qualifier in the Bicol Region.
Sorsogon City coach Manuel “Jun” Sentes said his boxers were not allowed by DepEd City OIC Superintendent Nimfa Juema to prepare them of the upcoming Palarong Bicol set on Feb. 4 to 10 in Naga City.
“But we still have one week to rest after this one,” said Sentes.
Out of the five boxers, only two were left from the Sorsogon City team.
They are Sente’s grandson Sean Paul Sentes (54 kg.) and Elmer Marbella (47 kg.), whose parents insisted to still allow their sons to join the nationwide grassroots developmental program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the Office of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
Luckily, they were later joined by the Barberan brothers Judah and Napthali also residents of Sorsogon City in the team during the final screening and distribution of IDs and free mattresses at the Sorsogon Provincial Gym last Friday.
The boxers and coaches will also receive their free meal allowance and transportation from the PSC. And aside from the cash prizes and medals, the winners of this tournament will get a chance to become part of the national training pool.
“I really wanted all my boxers to join this event since it is a good exposure and tune-up for them for the Palarong Bicol,” said Sentes.
Sorsogon Province, who is hosting the two-day event, however has been allowed by its DepEd Division Superintendent Loida Nidea to join the event.
“I only explained to DepEd how really very important for us to join this kind of event,” said Sorsogon Province Coach Salvador Castillo, who is also a public high school teacher.
He added: “We really lack exposure and competition. This can really help them develop their skills and stamina.”
Team Sorsogon Province of Gov. Robert “Bobet” Lee Rodrigueza has six boxers – Renzo Ruiz Abayon, C-Jay Ejera, Clander Erestain, RG Erestain, Albert Hagad, Kenneth Hamto and Rammel Olicia.
Supervising tournament director Rogelio Fortaleza, a former national boxer-coach had earlier informed DepEd to allow their students to join the event as part of their test to know if they are now really prepared for the Palarong Bicol.
“It can even help these young boxers know how prepared they are already. This will be a good tune up for them. So that they will know what needs to be improved on them in case,” explained Fortaleza.
Meanwhile, the preliminaries for the Visayas Region will now be held in Bago City, Negros Occidental on February 3 and 4 while the Quarter Finals of Luzon is slated on Feb. 17 and 18 tentatively in Binan, Laguna.
“It’s 80 percent sure na sa Binan. But we will formally announce it sooner,” said Fortaleza.
The Visayas Quarter Finals is set on Feb. 24 and 25 but the final venue will still be confirmed.
The other changes of the schedule is the National Finals.
“We need to have a week rest or break to also re-charge our officials and teams after the Luzon Finals,” explained Fortaleza.
After the Luzon Finals in Baguio on April 7, the National Preliminaries will now be held on April 21 and 23 in Mandaluyong City. The National Quarter Finals is on April 28 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol while the National Semi-Finals on May 5 in Tagum City.
The National Finals will now be held on May 12 in Sarangani Province of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
The other remaining schedules are:
MINDANAO –
Quarter Finals on Feb. 10-11 in Kidapawan City
Semi-Finals on March 3 in Cagayan de Oro City
Finals on March 25 in Davao City
VISAYAS –
Semi-Finals on March 10 in San Jose, Antique
Finals on March 31 in Maasin City
LUZON –
Semi-Finals on March 17 in Lingayen, Pangasinan
Finals on April 7 in Baguio City

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