KIDAPAWAN CITY—Bets from Cagayan de Oro and Digos City shone brightest in the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-Senator Manny Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup quarterfinals on Sunday.
But it was the gallant stand displayed by young pugs from the big cities’ outskirts that captured the hearts of hundreds of spectators at the Kidapawan City Gym.
Held in conjunction with the 20th founding anniversary of the capital of the province of Cotabato, the best boxers from Mindanao gathered for the two-day grassroots tournament that aims to attract aspiring national athletes
Six boxers from Cagayan de Oro and five from Digos City trounced their opponents in relative ease and won on points.
Although impressive enough to represent their localities, it was the boxers from small barangays in Labangal, General Santos City and Aglayan of Bukidnon who stole the show.
Lacking in resources but not the passion to chase his dream, Labangal’s Richard Sequino beat Digos City bet Louie Jay Albino via unanimous decision in a youth boys light flyweight bout.
The 18-year-old Physical Education student at the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College entered the ring with worn out shoes that is not essentially for boxing.
Nevertheless, he delivered.
“I badly wanted to win,” Sequino said in Visayan dialect.
The multi-Palarong Pambansa medalist will face Jake Sone Saludar of Polomolok, South Cotabato, in the semifinals set on March 3 and 4 in Cagayan de Oro City.
Saludar, who hails from a family of boxers that includes former national team member and older brother Rey Saludar, got the semifinals ticket via a walkover against Cjay Higado of Koronadal City.
With Athens Olympics silver medalist Onyok Velasco in attendance to scout potential talents as a consultant for the Philippine Sports Institute, Arceboy Baranggan of Barangay Aglayan barely made the cut but survived Curt Manigsasa of Davao City in a split decision victory of their flyweight match.
Baranggan said he didn’t expect that he would be going to the semifinals.
“He threw a lot of punches. But with luck, I won,” the emotional boxer expressed.
The tournament goes to Biñan late this week for the quarterfinals of the Luzon leg.