TAGAYTAY City—Carlo Espinosa of La Concepcion College-Bulacan lived up to his illustrious family name as he bagged the gold medal in boxing on another eventful day in the Philippine Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Games Luzon/NCR leg at the Tagaytay Combat Sports Center here Thursday.
Espinosa, who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, former world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa, won by referee-stopped-contest with only five seconds left in the first round over Ridge Aqui Burgos of the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the Philippine Air Force men’s lightweight 57-60 kg division.
An incoming third-year BS Criminology student, Espinosa said his extensive training and preparation paid off.
“Worth it talaga yun training ko. Sa tingin ko, mas nagiging easy yung fight once na yung training is napapagod ka talaga nang sobra,” said Espinosa.
“Paghahandaan natin yung national finals para maging maganda naman po yun laban na ipapakita natin sa mga manonood” added Espinosa
Espinosa said he expects tougher and stronger opponents in the ROTC National Finals scheduled on August 18-24.
‘Expected ko na nga na mas malalakas yung mga kababayan natin, lalo na yung mga Cebuano, at ibang parte ng Visayas at Mindanao, sa darating na finals,” added Espinosa, referring to the event conceptualized by Sen. Francis Tolentino in collaboration with the Department of National Defense, Commission on Higher Education, and Philippine Sports Commission.
When asked about his relationship with the former boxing champion Luisito, the young Espinosa claimed it is a big plus.
“It’s a privilege na magkaroon ng tito na kagaya niya na talagang nag-world champion. Mas nagiging easy na rin yun sa training kasi may nakukuha akong idea mula sa kanya at iba pang mga legit na boxers. Napakaswerte kong tao kasi sa kanila ako napunta,” Espinosa explained.
In the Philippine Navy men’s lightweight 57-60 kg division, John Remgel Calupez of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy defeated Lance Christian Melendres of Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation via RSC with 57 seconds left in the third round.
Ferdinand Melegrito of Angeles University Foundation won by unanimous decision against Angelo Vinoya of San Francisco Javier College-AR of Narra, Palawan, Inc. in the Philippine Air Force men’s featherweight 54-57 kg division.
Cyril John Delfin of the Maritime Academy of Asia also won in the Philippine Navy men’s light welterweight 57-60 kg division, while April Rose Lacson of Tarlac State University won by Unanimous decision in the Army women’s flyweight category.
Over at the Tolentino Sports Complex and Activity Center, RTU-Boni claimed three gold medals in the Army division through the victories of Edrian Anselmo in men’s finweight, Mike Salceda in men’s bantamweight, and Selah Pilla in women’s flyweight.
Bulacan Agricultural State College and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture each won two gold medals in the Army division.
RTU-Boni also secured two gold medals in arnis through Maria Mae Ballester and Henry Soriano in women’s and men’s non-traditional single weapon, respectively, in the Army unit.
In athletics, De La Salle University topped the 4×100-meter relay in Navy-women’s with 1:04.4 seconds against Westmead (1:05.3) and Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (1:07.4), which took home the silver and bronze medal, respectively.
RTU-Boni clocked in with 53.6 seconds to beat Don Honorio Ventura State University and Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, which earned silver and bronze medals respectively in Army-women 4x100m relay.
