The Barangay Una Boxing Team once again showed class and supremacy as they romped away with majority of the medals at stake in the recently concluded 2013 ABAP National Amateur Boxing Championship held in Maasin City, Southern Leyte last February 19-22, 2013 participated by 173 boxers representing various cities and provinces nationwide.

All in all, the Panabo City, Davao del Norte-based team snatched 7 golds and 2 silver medals out of 14 participating boxers who were sponsored and managed by the Office of Cong. Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr. with solid support from team founder and Mindanao’s rising business mogul Tonyboy Floirendo.

Former Asian Games Bronze medalist Victorio Saludar III led the onslaught as he clobbered his hometown-bet foe Michael Kaibigan in a Referee-Stopped Contest (RSC) due to outclass in the Elite Class Boys Light Flyweight Category.

The Barangay Una boxers reigned most in the Elite Boys Class as they took away 5 out 5 golds available. Aside from Saludar, also showing excellent performances inside the ring were Flyweight Jolan Bonghanoy who defeated Genesis Libranza of Cabadbaran City; Bantamweight Quirino Mellejor, Jr. over Cebu’s Reoxyl Tabogon; Lightweight Risty Apas outclassing Daryl Ramos of Maasin City; and Welterweight Jay-ar Inson trouncing Richard Bacala also of Maasin.

Also contributing golds were Youth Boys Campaigner Gabriel Rabicycle (Pinweight-46 kg.) and Jr. Boys Flyweight (50 kg.) campaigner Michael John Bahena were they defeated their 

respective final opponents from Misamis Oriental and Tagbilaran City. Maruelo Aballe and John Patrick Dinolan settled for silver medals.

 Other Barangay Una participants who were not as lucky and lost during eliminations were Jomarie Rubin, Mark Andy Austria, Jobel Araneta, Philip Jay Virador, Marvilo Aballe and Nelia Uba, the team’s lone girl campaigner.

Team Manager Gene-rose Tecson was very much satisfied with the results and said “the team’s dominance in the national amateur boxing scene typifies the solid and unwavering commitment of our patrons Tonyboy Floirendo and Cong. Anton Lagdameo, in supporting not only the year-round training of the boxers but most especially, the schooling and other personal requirements of the children. Tecson also thanked the moral support of the boxer’s parents.

The Barangay Una delegation was headed by its Programs Director Edwin Pardillo and Trainor/Coaches Lelios Siodina, Jeffrey Laurente and Sgt. Dick Varon, the latter, a guest trainor from the Philippine Air Force.

Barangay Una Boxing Team has been adjudged as one of the finest grassroots sports programs in the country having topped numerous local and national tournaments since its founding in 2003 by then Congressman Tonyboy Floirendo. The program was designed to counter drug addiction among youth and promote discipline and education. It has since produced the likes of London Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga of Panabo, Asian Games medalist brothers Rey and Victorio Saludar of Kapalong as well as World Series of Boxing campaigner Charly Suarez who hails from Sawata, San Isidro.

The program currently houses over 80 boxer/scholars under its care stationed at its state-of-the-art boxing/training facility in Panabo City.

Source: Office of Congressman Antonio Lagdameo