CALBAYOG City, Samar — A 15-year-old survivor of Super Typhoon Yolanda that hit Leyte province in 2013 emerged as the first winner in the ongoing PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup Visayas Semifinals at the Calbayog bus terminal in Barangay Bagacay here.
Jilyn dela Cruz, one of the only three entries of the Leyte Sports Academy, scored a convincing unanimous decision, 5-0, against Cebu’s Tricia Marie Llamas in the Junior Girls Pinweight (44-45 kg.) division.
It is the third gold medal for dela Cruz, who also won the gold medal in the 2016 Batang Pinoy in Tagum City and 2017 Batang Pinoy in Dumaguete City.
Her two teammates in the Youth Girls division, Judy Ann Orbeta (50 kg.) and Myra Nacario (48 kg.), are already qualified in the national finals and Visayas finals, respectively.
Orbeta, 18, is the lone entry in the Visayas while Nacario, also 18, earned a bye to the Visayas Finals slated on May 5 in Maasin City.
Their coaches are Romnick Villegas and Guilberto Malibag.
Meanwhile, five boxers from Bago City also scored contrasting wins on Saturday (March 17) in the grassroots development program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission in coordination with the office of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
Joshua Belicena stopped Sipalay’s Nixon Anito by a referee-stopped-contest due to the nose injury in Round 1 of the Junior Boys flyweight (50 kg.) division.
Meanwhile, Rodel Gamo won by a 4-0 victory over Murca’s Armand Jake Aragon in the Jr. Boys Pinweight while Samuel Manale beat Mandaue-Omega’s Jim Paul Dignos, 4-1 in the Jr. Boys light flyweight (48 kg.).
Nel Tambanillo and Jasper John Anida, on the other hand, both won for Bago by walkover wins after the now show of their respective opponents from Victorias.
Tambanillo won against Geniel Alit in the Youth Boys flyweight (52 kg) while Anida over Herlan Gomez in the Youth Boys bantamweight (56 kg.).
“Victorias failed to come here due to lack of funds,” said Supervising Technical Direcor Rogelio Fortaleza. (Lito Delos Reyes/PNA)