Female pugs assured of silver, 2 bronzes

VIENTIANE – The Philippines’ boxing amazons showed their killer instincts in three opening round victories, raising the national boxers’ medal hopes to five after two days of boxing preliminaries in the 25th Southeast Asian Games yesterday at the boxing gymnasium of the National University.

Josie Gabuco crushed Kyu Kyu Thin of Myanmar, 6-1, in the pinweight (46 kg) division and assured herself of at least a silver medal as the victory sent her to the finals of the five-woman event on Dec. 16 against Vietnamese Nguyen The Hoa.

Annie Albania, the lone Philippine boxing gold medalist from the 2007 SEA Games, led, 2-0, in the first round, 3-0, in the second, 4-0, in the third and 7-0, in the fourth to advance to the light flyweight (48 kg) semifinals tomorrow against Thai Dueannapha Ngamlan.

Alice Apparri, daughter of a laborer and an overseas Filipino worker from Baguio, delivered a straight to the chin to win by knockout over Vietnamese Ngo Thi Phuong, the Vietnam Indoor Games gold medalist, in the first round of their light flyweight.

She was ahead, 3-0, before the referee stopped the contest halfway in the first round.

The victories, which also assured Albania and Apparri of at least a bronze in their divisions, gave the boxing team five of six wins before the preliminary bout today of Olympian Harry Tañamor against Htet Aung of Myanmar in the light flyweight (48) kg class.

Two male boxers who earlier advanced to the semis were Bill Vicera in the pinweight (45 kg) and Charly Suarez in the featherweight (57 kg).

Rey Saludar drew a bye into the flyweight (51kg) semifinals where he fights XayYafphone. Michel Martinez also drew a bye into the semifinals of the featherweight (57kg) tomorrow.

Still, despite the inspiring wins of his wards, boxing secretary general and team captain Ed Picson said the important battles of the Filipinos still lie ahead, referring to their confrontation with the fearsome Thais, which have sent young, tough entries to the Games.

“We are cautiously ecstatic over the victories. The more important battles are still ahead. We are ready to fight whoever gets on our way. Our preparations are good, we’re doing what we have to do to win,” said Picson.     – Gerry Carpio