ALBANIA STRIKES GOLD IN ASIAN INDOOR GAMES
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 05 Nov 2009
A former javelin thrower who turned into boxing gifted the Philippines its first gold medal in the Third Asian Indoor Games boxing championships yesterday at the Bacninh town in Vietnam.
The 26-year-old Albania, who besides being a former member of the national training pool in athletics also played varsity basketball in her student days at the University of the East, used her swift side-by-side movement to the hilt in outclassing wily Thai opponent Sopida Satumrum from the second round on in their bantamweight finals encounter on the way to a lopsided 12-4 victory.
Held to ax 0-0 standoff after the first round, Albania from Banga, South Cotabato and the lone gold medalist in the sweet science sport in the 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games, proved the more accurate in connecting with almost at will in the next sessions even luring Satumrum to resort to leaning and other dirty tactics in the fourth.
The referee awarded Albania a two-point bonus after Satumrum pushed her down in an effort to disarm the Filipina, a silver medalist in the last world championship held in China.
Teammate Mitchel Martinez was not as lucky though losing to Ching Dong of China, 3-18, in their light-welterweight finale.
Dong’s victory was her second against Martinez, the first Filipina o have won an Asiaxn boxing chaxmpionship, whom she also beat in the quarterfinal round of the 2008 world chamapionships in Nimbo, China.
”Masaya, napakasaya at nakapagbigay na naman ako ng karangalan sa bansa,” the pint-sized Albania told GAZETTE in a telephone interview after his gold medal triumph. “Alay ko ang tagumpay jkong ito sax ating mga kababayan. “
Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson said Albania’s gold medal win and Martinez’s silver medal finish are just a start reaping the products of a renewed program being implemented by his association, headed by president Ricky Vargas and chair Manny V. Pangilinan.
“Maganda ang nagging scouting na ginawa n gating mga coaches (Boy Catolico and assistant Roel Velasco), Kumpletong-kumpleto. Sayang nga lamang at hindi sinuwerte si Mitchel at ang tatlo pang dinala natin ditto. But still our stint here augurs wells to our preparations for the coming SEA Games,” Picson said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
LERASAN, KASSIM, MAKE WEIGHT FOR WBF 118 BELT IN TANZANIA
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 26 Dec 2024IIEE Metro Central scores 24-24 standoff versus IIEE Western Visayas in the 3rd D’ Engineers Cup
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 26 Dec 2024Ortega wins Laguna chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 25 Dec 2024Paciones to fight Li in Bangkok on Dec. 26
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 24 Dec 2024Antonio Vargas Seeks Showdown with WBA Bantamweight Champion Seiya Tsutsumi
Tue, 24 Dec 2024FIGHTBOOK ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL LAUNCH IN EARLY 2025 AND OPENS PRE-REGISTRATION FOR PROFESSIONAL BOXERS
Tue, 24 Dec 2024IBA investigates possible integrity violations at the ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in Thailand
Tue, 24 Dec 2024NM Ilar rules 7th Nova Onas Rapid chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 24 Dec 2024Where Have All THE Heavyweights Gone?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 23 Dec 2024World-Ranked Contenders Jayson Mama, Joey Canoy, and Esneth Domingo Scheduled to Return on December 27 in Kalamansig
Mon, 23 Dec 2024Beltran loses by KO in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 23 Dec 2024CATTERALL COLLIDES WITH BARBOZA JR AT CO-OP LIVE ON FEBRUARY 15
Mon, 23 Dec 2024Elite and Youth Champions Named to Conclude the 2024 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 23 Dec 2024Quirante KOs former teammate in 4th round
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 23 Dec 2024Santisima, Portes bow in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 23 Dec 2024