MANDALUYONG, BAGUIO, CAMSUR ARE EARLY TOP BETS IN PSC-PACQUIAO BOXING CUP

TEXT & PHOTOS BY LITO DELOS REYES

TOP BET. [top photo] Mandaluyong City under coach Steven Ramos.

TOUGH GIRLS.
The Baguio City boxing team under coach Kevin Guzman (standing, extreme left).

DARKHORSE.
Team Camarines Sur under head coach Robert Bubuli (1st row, extreme left) of Gov. Migs Villafuerte.

SORSOGON CITY (Jan. 26) – The much-awaited Luzon Preliminary of the 2018 PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup will open tomorrow at the Sorsogon National High School in Sorsogon City.
More than 15 teams from different local government units in Luzon are seeing action in the two-day event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in coordination with the Office of Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.
Among the early birds are Baguio, Mandaluyong, Tuguegarao, Iriga, Camarines Sur and host Sorsogon Province.
Mandaluyong is expected as the early favourite after bagging the over-all title in the Batang Pinoy Luzon Qualifying tournament held last year in Vigan,
Mandaluyong under Coach Steven Ramos is represented by six gold medalists – Biboy Seneta (46 kg.), Nikki Boy Oladive (48 kg.), Reymart Gomez (52 kg.), Donaltd Laurejas (60 kg.) and Glenn Duman-ag (49 kg.) with bronze medal winner Dave Asi Laurejas (50 kg.).
“I think Mandaluyong is the team to beat,” said veteran coach Roberto Bubuli of Team Camarines Sur (CamSur) of Gov. Migs Villafuerte.
Camsur, however, is composed of the province’s team B since its team A is already set to see action in the DepEd’s Palarong Bicol slated next month.
“Pero lalaban itong mga bata namin,” said Bubuli, also an assistant of coach Buboy Rodriguez in the Manny Pacquiao boxing team.
Baguio, which was the first team to arrive after a 17-hour bus trip, is bannered by 2016 Batang Pinoy silver medallist Arla Chalis (57 kg.) and bronze medallist Janine Pangod (51 kg.) and 2017 Batang Pinoy Luzon bronze medallist Frenzle Golocan (54 kg.).
“We’re expecting more teams today (Jan. 26) with the winners advancing to the quarter finals on Feb. 17 and 18 in Manila,” said tournament supervisor Roger Fortaleza.
The other confirmed teams are La Union, Olongapo City, Albay, Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Puerto Princesa, Lucena City, Pangasinan, Benguet and Bagahabag Nueva Vizcaya.
Sorsogon Gov. Bobet Lee Rodrigueza will welcome the teams and guests in today’s opening program at 1 p.m.
Also expected are Philippine Sports Commissioners Arnold Agustin and Celia Kiram, PSC Executive Director Atty. Sanah Frivaldo, 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Enrico Pineda and Sorsogon Mayor Sally Lee.