CEBU, VICTORIAS IN EARLY WINS IN QUARTER FINALS OF PSC-PACQUIAO CUP

EARLY WINNER. Referee Ronnie Sumampong raising the hand of Cebu’s John Paul Gabunelas, who won by a split decision against Omega’s Arlan Wenn Melgo in the Youth Boys light flyweight division in the on-going Visayas Quarter Finals of the PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup at the ECAC in City of Naga, Cebu. (Below) PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez and 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver medalist Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco.

Text & Photos by LITO DELOS REYES

CITY OF NAGA, CEBU (Feb. 24) – Cebu City and Victorias City each posted two early wins but in contrasting ways at the start of the two-day Visayas Quarter Finals of the PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup today at the Enan Chiong Activity Center here.
Sixteen-year old John Paul Gabunelas of Cebu won by a split decision against Omega’s Arlan Wenn Medco, 4-1 to advance to the Semi-Finals in the Youth Boys light flyweight (46-49 kg.) division.
Gabunelas, a four-time medalist in the Batang Pinoy, landed more telling blows that twice gave Medco a mandatory 8-count from national referee Ronnie Sumampong in Rounds 2 and 3.
Cebu got its second win from Eduardo Jimenez, who beat Murcia’s Joenil Francisco by a split decision, 4-1 in the Jr. Boys light flyweight (48 kg.) event.
Victorias City, on the other hand, easily earned two victories today via walk-over wins by Christian Lachica (50 kg.) and Jowil Saludo (52 kg.) against Himamaylan’s Novem Magbanua and Cadiz’s Joven dela Pena, respectively in the Junior Boys division.
Meanwhile, Jarah Hury Aragon, however, emerged as Omega’s first semi-finalist after stopping Murcia’s Victor Cordero by a referee-stopped-contest in 2:07 of Round 2 in the Youth Boys lightweight (60 kg.) category.
Philippine Sports Commissioner Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez declared the opening of the event hosted by City of Naga represented by Vice Mayor Othello Chiong.
“Kayo ang future ng boxing at sana pagbutihan nyo ang mga laban nyo,” said Fernandez, a many-time Most Valuable Player in the PBA.
Olympian Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, a silver medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, also gave an inspirational message to the young boxers.
“Disiplina talaga ang kailangan. Bale wala ang talent mo kung wala kang disiplina sa sarili mo,” said Velasco, a native of Bago City, Negros Occidental.
The Visayas Semi-Finals will be held in Calbayog on March 17 followed by the Visayas Championship on April 28 in Maasin City according to supervising technical director Rogelio Fortaleza of the Philippine Sports Institute.
The grassroots development program is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the officer of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.