HANDFUL OF TALENT

Vic Saludar is among those being eyed in the national youth team after his impressive showing in the 2010 Smart-ABAP National Open

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – A handful of boxers are expected to clinch slots in the national youth team following their remarkable showing in the 2010 Smart-ABAP National Open which came to a close here.

A panel of national coaches came away impressed with the performances of Davao del Norte’s Victorio Saludar and Mark Anthony Barriga, Davao City’s Engelbert Moralde, Misamis Oriental’s Albert Pagala and Bago City’s James Palicte, giving them a good chance of making the national youth squad that will see action in the Olympic qualifying tourney in Baku, Azerbaijan in April and the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympics in August.

The hard-hitting Saludar crushed Kevin James Gob of Tayabas City with 1:35 left in the first round to capture the youth boys’ bantamweight crown while Barriga won over Albert Sumugat of Palawan A, 21-5, to rule the junior boys’ pinweight class.

Moralde, meanwhile, clobbered Jeff Rodriguez of Puerto Princesa C, 12-3, to win the junior boys’ light flyweight title while Pagala and Palicte dominated Mario Fernandez of Ablayan, Bukidnon, 18-4, and Robert Tompong of Palawan A, 15-9, to conquer the junior boys’ flyweight and bantamweight titles, respectively.

“These are the boxers that we’re looking at,” said RP Team head coach Pat Gaspi, who watched at the sidelines along with fellow mentors Roel Velasco, Boy Catolico and Romeo Brin.

“We already had our respective evaluations and we will finalize everything as soon as we get to Manila. Then we’ll inform their mother units of their selection and, if they will be allowed, we’ll bring them to Baguio to start their training right away.”

Saludar, however, might be turned over to the elite pool since he will be turning 19 this year.

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines needs five boxers in the boys and nine from the girls division to complete the squad.

Also ending up with a gold medal were Niel John Tabanao of Davao del Norte in the junior boys’ light bantamweight class, Mark Vincent Fernandez of Tagbilaran City in the junior boys’ featherweight class, Jhon Merced of Puerto Princesa C in the youth boys’ pinweight class, Glen Cantaveros of Davao del Norte in the youth boys’ light flyweight class, Jolan Bughanoy of Davao del Norte in the youth boys’ flyweight class, Carlo Suelo of Palawan A in the youth boys’ featherweight class, Jheritz Chavez of Mandaluyong City in the youth boys’ lightweight class, Dennis Galvan of Bago City in the youth boys’ light welterweight class.

In the girls’ division, emerging victorious were Lucy Bayo of Puerto Princesa C in the pinweight class, Winnie Verano of Valencia in the flyweight class and Rose Magbanua of Puerto Princesa A in the flyweight class while Maricris Igam of Palawan A and Catherine Jimena of Dexter Santos ruled the youth girls’ flyweight and bantamweight, respectively.

In the kids’ division, Ian Jan Fabia of Puerto Princesa City B won the kiddie weight title, Romel Tunacao of Mandaue City ruled the cotton weight class, Rafael Jalnaiz of Misamis Oriental claimed the vacuum weight crown, Robert Miguel Jalnaiz of Misamis Oriental clinched the ant weight plum, Arville Olaivar of Tagbilaran City captured the minimum weight honor and Ronnel Tagmolia of Bago City clinched the powder weight crown.

In the school boys’ division, ending up with a gold medal were Michael Bahena of Bago City (light mosquito weight class), Elimir Marcial (mosquito weight class), Joven Labordo of Bacolod City (light paper weight), Alvin Sibugan of Bacolod City (paper weight), Cholen Albago of Bago City (light pinweight), Geo Rafa of Tayabas City (pinweight), John Bryan Noces of Calinan, Davao (light flyweight) and Joshua de Vero of Bamban, Tarlac (bantamweight).

Davao del Norte of Cong. Anton Lagdameo copped the overall title with six gold, one silver and five bronze medals.