Dargantes body in Gensan soon

By LITO DELOS REYES

DAVAO CITY – The remains of the late former Philippine national amateur boxer Alexcel “Didat” Dargantes will be fly to Gen. Santos City soon.

This was confirmed in a Facebook message by national player Nesthy Petecio.

“Gusto po mag thank you sa ABAP family ko po dahil sinagot po nila lahat ang gastusin po para kay Alexcel (I would like to thank my ABAP family because they covered all the expenses for Alexcel),” said Petecio.

Petecio thanked all the officials and the coaches of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) who still gave help to Dargantes, who is no longer a member of the national team.

Meanwhile, Gensan boxing Coach Cristino Titing Laurente was also shocked by the news.

“Kalooy sa akong boxer oy (Pity my boxer),” said Laurente.

Dargantes was the first female boxer taught by Laurente in Bula and was sent to the Philippine team.

“Silingan mi ana sa Brgy. Bula (We are neighbors in Brgy. Bula),” said Laurente.

Dargantes, however, did not play for Gensan but for Makati during the Philippine National Games in 2014.

And that broke the heart of many Gensan boxing fans including Laurente.
“Pero matagal na yun at pinatawad na namin siya (But that was a long time ago and we forgave him),” said Laurente.

Dargantes later was cut from national team in 2018 but she remained in Baguio to study and work. She studied Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Baguio.

PHOTO
Coach Cristino Titing Laurente’s son Cris Sander with the late Alexcel “Didat” Dargantes.