
CEBU, BAGO EARLY FAVORITES IN PSC-PACQUIAO CUP
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 02 Feb 2018

THE visiting Cebu City boxing team is still the team to beat despite losing two boxers already due to technicality in the two-day Visayas Preliminaries of the PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup set today and tomorrow at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum in Bago City.
Both Gabriel Tapales (44-46 kg.) and Yer Roge Gura (52 kg.) were disqualified by the organizing Philippine Sports Institute headed by supervising tournament director Rogelio Fortaleza to compete in the Junior Boys Division for being underage.
?They still lack the required birth year. We are just protecting these young and promising boxers,? Fortaleza said.
Qualified to join the Junior Boys and Girls category are between the ages of 15-16 years old with a cut-off date of 2001-2002. Both Tapales (a younger brother of former world champion Marlon Tapales) and Gura were born in 2003.
Also qualified to compete in the Youth Boys and Girls division are between the ages of 17-18 years old and a Cut-off date of 1999-2000.
Cebu City, however, still has Albay Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Eduardo Jimenez Jr., Philippine National Games Antique gold medal winner John Ro Taneo, bronze medalist Limber Cainap, Batang Pinoy triple bronze medalist John Paul Gabunelas and bronze medalist Angelo Bulasa.
Cebu also has the Llamas sisters ? Faith Colin and Mary Nicole Llamas ? who won a silver and bronze, respectively in the Palarong Pambansa in Tagum.
?Cebu ang pinaka malakas na team. Pero handa kaming lumaban, ? (Cebu is the strongest team. But we are ready to fight) said Bago City head coach Larry Semillano, who represented the country in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
The host team has Batang Pinoy Visayas gold medalist (50 kg.), Batang Pinoy Tagum gold medalist Rodel Gamo (36 kg.), Palaro Albay silver medalist Joshua Belecina (40 kg.), regional champions Mark Lyndon Bolanos (42 kg.) and Jasper John Anida (34 kg.).
Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo will host a welcome lunch today (Feb. 12) for all the coaches and officials in the two-day event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the office of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Cebu City boxing team under head coach Jordan Dopalco (seated, extreme right) (Photo by LITO DELOS REYES)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Lito delos Reyes.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 16 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 16 Feb 2026Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
By Chris Carlson, Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
Thu, 12 Feb 2026