CEBU, Philippines - The province of Southern Leyte under the leadership of Governor Damian G. Mercado will be celebrating its 52nd Founding Anniversary today, July 1. Several sports competitions were held to make the event more colorful. The most attended and most cheered was the Invitational Boxing Tournament held at the Capitol Sunken Garden of Maasin City.
The teams that participated in the amateur boxing showdown were Maasin City, Baybay City, Bohol represented by Ubay, Libagon, Matalom, Bontoc, and Tomas Oppus.
Maasin got the overall championship upon sending six boxers to the finals, who won all their bouts for the six gold medal harvest of the capital city.
The gold medallists from the host city were Joshua Orello (32 kgs.), Romei Evale (34 kgs.), Monsour Grullo (36 kgs.), Jeffrey Orello (38 kgs.), Jason Entia (54 kgs.), Daryl Ramos (56 kgs.).
Bohol toon the first runner-up honors with two golds, while Baybay City came out as the second runner-up. The Boholano gold medallists were Arnel Olarita ( 45 kgs.) and Joshua Decipeda (48 kgs.).
There were also matches called 'Engkwentro' among boxers who did not qualify for the tournament as sidelights to the main invitational contest.
The officiating officials were members of the Southern Leyte Amateur Boxing Association (SOLABA), which is accredited by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP).