VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR - Five Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) boxers lived up to expectations by sweeping all bouts to reach the quarterfinals at the start of the Palarong Pambansa 2018 boxing competition at the Plaza Burgos here Monday night.
Lester John Yanis, Reymund Albupera, Myrwen Aballe, Andy Dave Maranan and Kim Delmar Macaangga will advance to fight for bronze medals in their respective weight classes on Wednesday, April 17.
The 15-year-old Yanis, who hails from General Santos but joined the Barangay Una Boxing Team of Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo in Panabo City as a scholar, eked out a first round (one minute and 58 seconds) referee-stopped-contest (RSC) victory over Eugenio Tomas of Cagayan Valley in schoolboys pinweight 44-46 kilograms (kgs).
Yanis, competing in his first Palaro, unleashed solid left uppercuts that left Tomas wobbly.
"Walo ko magdahum nga mapildi dayon nako sya. Kaduha man sya naihapan, gidula ko lang man sya. Mura pa syag newbie jud (I did not expect I would beat him that fast. He was given the mandatory eight-count twice. He seems new in the sport)," the incombing he said.
Yanis, the eldest among four children of Jickerez, a tricycle driver, and Jocelyn, a canning factory worker, said, "Sa unang higayon nga naigo nako sya sa panga, lipong na sya pero nisukol man gihapon. Sa ikaduhang higayon, gihunong najud sa referee (The first time time I hit him hard, he was groggy but he kept fighting after the eight-count. The second time it happened, the referree already stopped the match after the count)."
Davao City's Albupera, a Batang Pinoy Mindanao 2018 gold medalist and Davraa Meet 2018 best boxer, beat Guillermo Payas of Mimaropa Region via unanimous deision, 5-0, in school boys light flyweight 46-49 kgs.
Albupera, an incoming Grade 11 student at Marilog National High School, dominated his foe all throughout the bout with his powerful combinations.
The Dawbawenyo said, "Naglisod man sad ko kay mu-counter man sya (I also had a hard time because he is a counter puncher)."
He aims to win the gold in his Palaro debut here.
Meanwhile, Aballe subdued Reymark Robles of CAR in a split decision, 3-2, in their school boys light bantamweight (50-52 kgs) clash even as Maranan defeated Jason Sales, 4-1, in school boys bantamweight and Macaangga scored a second round RSC win over C. Castro of Cordillera Administrative Region in youth boys light welterweight division.
Five more Davraa boxers were set to climb the ring Tuesday evening - school boys flyweight Christian Betonio, youth boys light flyweight John Ednoel Prevendido, youth boys flyweight JM Diocares, youth boys bantamweight D.V. Arguelles and youth boys lightweight Jerald Fabricante.