Sugar Ray Ocana connected with a right straight to the face and scored a knockout to beat lighwelterweight foe Jerome Panganiban last Friday in the closing of the 2018 Philippine National Games boxing competitions at the Cebu Coliseum here.
When Ocana’s punch landed, Panganiban, who is from Leyte, almost crumpled to the floor if not for the helping hands of the referee, who quickly pulled him to the ropes in two minute and 58 second mark of the second round.
“Duon ko nabasa iyung galaw niya. Open siya, kaya KO ko siya,” said the 20-year-old Ocana, who victory allowed Cagayan to caps it campaign with a six-fight sweep of all the events their first fighters got involved in.
Ocana, a member of the national team, said his stint kept him in top shape for the his participation to a qualifier to the Southeast Asian Games next month.
Teammate John Paul Panuayan added to Cagayan de Oro’s medal haul when he finished off Cebu City’s John Regis with a referee stopped contest-injury decision in 2:58 of the second round, and in the youth men’s lightweight action.
John Ignatius Macas outpointed Sultan Kudarat’s Jobert Paala, 5-0, to take the youth men’s flyweight action for CDO.
Mark Lester Durens also contributed to CDO’s gold medal stash by prevailing over Cebu City’s John Paul Gabunelas, 3-2, in the youth men’s light flyweight finale. Peter Atencio
“Kahit paano, na-perfect namin. Masipag ang mga bata sa training, at alam nila ang ginagawa nila sa rin,” said CDO coach Elmer Pamisa.
Earlier, two female fighters from Cagayan de Oro City came off with convincing wins to earn gold medals in the women’s division.
Eighteen-year-old Elaide Pamisa followed his uncle’s advise to the letter as she and Jima Baja dominated the women’s light-flyweight and flyweight classes.
Pamisa, an 11th grade student from Upper Carmen, engaged Leyte’s Myra Nacario in a furious exchange of blows and came out on top to win on points, 4-1.
Baja, a member of the national team now based in Baguio City, handed Cagayan de Oro a second gold, after defied Leyte bet Judy Ann Orbeta’s long reach for a 5-0 shutout.
In other bouts, Mario Pianar of Davao del Norte prevailed over Victorias bet Mario Jaga Jr. via an RSC win in 27 seconds of the second round of the welterweight action while teammate Paul Bascon won over Argie Emendo of Bayawan via RSC-Injury in 2:52 of the second of the lightweight event.
Their impressive showings came as host Cebu City ended the five-day meet by formally taking the no. 1 spot in the overall medal race with 38 golds, 54 silvers and 58 bronzes.
Baguio City is in second (34-32-40), while Mandaluyong City is third (23-13-18). General Santos City is in fourth (16-22-27) while Zamboanga is fifth (14-6-13).