Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Misor boxers draw blood By Lynde Salgados
PUERTO PRINCESA -- A near shutout win by Misor pugilists in the preliminary matches of amateur boxing competition has put them in a better position of putting an end to NMRAA's gold drought in the ongoing 2008 Palaro here.
Of the four NM hopefuls trading blows in a well-attended boxing bouts at Puerto Princesa City's Bay Walk, the three of them impressed the mammoth crowd by turning in quick victories-- one after the other--with only one casualty.
Powder weight Macrea Gandionco needed just one round to stop Rio Briones of Region 4 B. The experienced Daryl Basadre was also quick on the trigger outclassing Region 3's Valentino Bernardino in just two rounds of the mosquito weight category. While paper weight Manrico Gemina outgunned Region 6's Michael Juralbal in a lopsided 14-2 score.
Only Marvin Fernandez dropped out from the cast as he yielded to Bonifacio Fernando of Region 4 also on points.
"Sa ilang gipakita nga kakusog sa kumo ug ka-igmat sa away, dako kaayo ang chance nga naay mo-champion sa atong mga boxers kay kusog kaayo'g mga kumo," said NMRAA chess secondary girls coach Rodney Gabac.
The Misor boxers reinforced the NMRAA's Palaro campaign after reportedly undergoing a tedious training preparation under former Asian Games gold medalist Roberto "Bobby" Jalnaiz.
Also likely to end NMRAA's woe in their search for golds are the elementary and secondary's taekwondo jins.
The wards of veteran coach George Arsenal just pulled one gold last year in Koronadal, courtesy of then elementary bet Josafat John Licayan.
It could be a couple of golds had it not for the heartbreaking loss of Luminarias during the 2007 Palaro in Koronadal, South Cotabato. But with two national figures in their side--RP team mainstays Juan Ernesto Mendoza and JR Rivero--the NMRAA jins are determined to improve their showing in Palawan.
The centerpiece events proved to be a tough nut to crack for Northern Mindanao athletes after two days of action in the 2008 Palarong Pambansa here.
While the medal-rich swimming competition continues to fail them as in the previous editions of the annual students meet, the track and field events were no longer as fruitful than last year in Koronadal which saw the mighty pair of Jerome Oclarit of Tangub City and Maricel Pacquiao of Bukidnon delivering the golds for NMRAA's cause.
With the elusive gold hunt now haunting the 500-strong NMRAA contingent, at least one talent from Misamis Occidental provided a strong resistance in the sun-baked oval of the 16-hectare Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex when he excelled in secondary boys javelin throw.
Banjo Samson heaved in 47.47 distance to finish third behind gold winner Ralph Efraem Gesulgon of Region 6 (49.59) and second-running John Paul Chinyuna of Region 2 (48.22) and gave Region 10 its first silver medal in the initial stages of the centerpiece events.
In secondary girls triple jump, NMRAA's Regine Ganiolon settled for a respectable fifth behind Irin Balura of Region 7, Jenalyn Molde of Region 6, Avegail Marie Dizon of NCR and Jogan Bermudo of Region 5.
"But we're not losing hope in our quest to hit the gold mine. The competition is not yet over and we have still an ace up our sleeves," said NMRAA athletics coach Romeo Tabamo whose secret weapon is no other than the now grown-up relative of Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao.
The beanpole lass from Kibawe, Bukidnon, who emerged triumphant last year in high jump event, eyes another victorious leap in secondary girls long jump and the highly-challenging triple jump contests.
"Maricel (Pacquiao) was so dominating during the regional meet in Cagayan de Oro where she hurdled her events with relative ease. We just hope and pray that she can pull off a surprise here," Tabamo told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
