FILIPINOS' QUEST FOR GOLD IN ASIAN YOUTH BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTINUES
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 16 Mar 2013
Two talented and courageous young Filipinos continued their quest for gold in the Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships while two others were waiting to enter the ring tonight to hopefully earn a chance to go for gold.
Light flyweight Jade Bornea and light welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial advanced to the finals with hard-earned victories over opponents from the former Soviet Republic.
A bronze medalist in the World Youth Championship in Armenia last December, Bornea defeated Shatlykmyrat Myradov of Tukmenistan, 17-10, in their 49-kilogram semifinal bout, while Marcial, the reigning World Junior champion, wore down Uzbekistan?s Anvar Turamov to score a 17-10 victory..
The finals is set Saturday for the 10-division tournament backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, PLDT, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Clarktel, Subictel, Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Videogear Inc., Exile Lights and Sound, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Sports Commission, and supported by Sony Philippines, Nestle Philippines, and Trame Oil & Environmental Specialist.
Bornea faces the winner of the semifinal between India?s Lalitha Polipalli, who carries an AIB flag after the Indian Olympic Committee was suspended by the International Olympic Committee for violation of the rules on government interferen and Kosei Tanaka of Japan later in the evening. Marcial goes up against another Japanese in Hikaru Okishima or r Batzorig Otgonjorgal of Mongolia.
Two other Filipinos were to climb the ring eyeing seats to the gold medal round with flyweight Ian Clark Bautista facing tough Sagidyk Moldashev of Kazakhstan at 52 kilograms and lightweight James Palicte battling India?s Nagesh Kharare at 60kgs.
Amateur Boxing Association president and former Philippine Boxing Association chairman Ricky Vargas said ?A great win by Jade and we will cheer for him today. But even louder cheers for the ABAP team that has been working hard for an efficient and properly run tournament. No major problems so far.?
ABAP executive director Ed Picson beamed as well over the product of ABAP?s grassroots development program in Mindanao. He said .?Jade is living up to his reputation as a shifty, wily, switch-hitter. A lot of people believe he?s a shoo-in for the gold. I?d rather wait for Saturday?s finals.?
Bornea kept the fleet-footed Myradov at bay with snapping head shots, never allowing the Turkmenistan to get close enough to inflict heavy damage. He led, 5-3, in the first round and 12-7 after the second.
National coach Romeo Brin said ?Sobrang kundisyon na si Bornea. Di na kailangan bigyan ng maraming instructions? although Marcial, who continues to adjust to a heavier weight class, went through a struggle to get past the Uzbek.
The final score seemed to indicate a rout but Marcial had to draw deep to pull it off after a punishing first round exchange left him drained and barely ahead, 5-4.
Marcial conceded ?Naubos ang lakas ko sa kakabira; napagod ako noong first round. Bumalik lang yung lakas ko nang marinig ko ang mga tao na sumisigaw ng ?sige, suntok!??
A staggering right hook sank Turamov on a knee in the second and Marcial slowly negotiated his way out of the roughs, 12-8.
?It was a tough fight although the score indicates otherwise,? said Picson. ?Turamov was a solid boxer who took all of Eumir?s power bombs. He got in a few licks of his own after his fall but Marcial?s ring savvy and experience pulled him though.?
Vargas and ABAP chairman Manny Pangilinan told us they would fly by helicopter to Subic Freeport to provide moral support for the Filipinos in their determined quest for gold.
Photo: Marcial (L) and Bornea (R).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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