N. Mindanao rules Palaro boxing; Mimaropa’s Naelgas is best pug

Mimaropa’s Billy Naelgas (center) is named best boxer in the Palarong Pambansa 2018 held at Vigan, Ilocos Sur. (PNA photo)

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur — Northern Mindanao reigned supreme in this year’s Palarong Pambansa boxing competition after capturing six wins during finals night at Plaza Burgos on Friday.

Northern Mindanao, mainly composed of pugs from Cagayan de Oro, was actually 6-0 in the matches where it was involved.

Jericho Acaylar opened the night by beating Lester Yanis of Davao region in the pinweight division final.

Joshua Odvina continued the trend for Northern Mindanao by knocking out JJ Amores of Mimaropa in the school boy junior bantamweight championship bout, the lone finish of the card.

DB Caspe added a third gold for Northern Mindanao after beating JD Villaverde of Soccsksargen in the school boy bantamweight division championship, while JE Palivino made it 2-0 for Northern Mindanao against the boxing hotbed region by beating Jayson Brillo in the youth boy flyweight category.

Sandwiched between the two Northern Mindanao wins against Soccsksargen was Mark Durens’ victory over National Capital Region’s Glenn Duman-ag in the youth light flyweight title bout.

Wesly Caga completed the Northern Mindanao domination by edging Jerald Fabricante of Davao in the youth boy lightweight final. In effect, Northern Mindanao was also 2-0 against Davao.

“Our regional boxing team succeeded because of the dedication of the players. Aside from that one, the hard work and, of course, the good program of the trainers, the support of the LGU (local government unit), especially the mayor of Cagayan de Oro City, and the DepEd (Department of Education) personnel,” Frances Dumaog, assistant coach of the team, which also nabbed two bronzes courtesy of school boy flyweight Kim Cabrillos and youth boy light flyweight Ajera Bentura, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Another Davaoeño boxer, KD Macaangga, fell short of the gold, losing to Mimaropa’s Billy Naelgas in the junior welterweight finals, the night’s main event.

Davao will still go home with a gold from boxing as Christian Betonio defeated Johifer Gaki of the Cordillera region in the school boy flyweight final.

Another team with a gold and silver in its pocket was Central Visayas, with Gerwin Asilo taking the gold after winning over Western Visayas’ Charles Con-el in the youth boy bantamweight championship and Eduardo Jimenez settling for the silver after bowing to Eastern Visayas’ Salvador Caasi.

However, the night belonged to Naelgas, who was named best boxer of the tournament.

Naelgas received a pair of boxing gloves from Adidas and push-up equipment as a reward for his brilliance.

“Napakasaya po kasi first time ko pong mag-champion sa Palarong Pambansa. Ganun na rin po kasi sa dami-dami pong boxers, ako pa yung napili bilang best boxer (I’m very happy because it is my first time to be champion in the Palarong Pambansa and out of the many boxers here, I was chosen as best boxer),” Naelgas told PNA in a separate interview.