Philippine National Games

Southeast Asian Games winner Dennis Galvan shined in the Philippine National Games
The Philippine National Games was held in Lingayen, Pangasinan where the boxing tournament was one of the most important sport. The competition was held in six different age groups for both genders: women elite, men elite, women youth, men youth, women junior and men junior.
Before the Philippine National Games there were three pre-selection events in different islands of the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Qualifying Legs were held in last months of 2015 to select only the bests to the Philippine National Games where the boxing tournament was scheduled in five sessions.
Aira Villegas could be the next Filipino future star in women boxing who is only 21 but her dominancy over her rivals at the Light Flyweight class (48 kg) was amazing in the National Games. Villegas was able to beat another talented young hope Alexcel Dargantes winning all of the rounds as the scoring of 10:9.
Nicezzaa Petecio is their AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Nesthy Petecio’s younger sister who claimed the gold medal at the Women’s Flyweight class (51 kg) after stopping Grace Paula Ganton in the second round of the final. Riza Pasuit received the right to fight for Philippines in the last edition of the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships in Wulanchabu, China therefore the Featherweight class (57 kg) boxer was enough strong and experienced to beat Margie Waga in the gold medal bout.
Titleholder in the National Games and AIBA Women’s Youth World Boxing Championships competitor Judelyn Casin won the lone weight class at the women youth competition in Lingayen. Jean Minguillan is only 16 but she was able to win her second gold medal in the history of the Philippine National Games, this time at the Junior Light Flyweight class (48 kg) while 15-year-old Carolyn Calungsod was a new winner in the women junior event.
In the men elite age group the biggest name among the winners was Dennis Galvan who claimed gold medal at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games. The 24-year-old Light Welterweight class (64 kg) boxer had lethal punches in the final round against Jerome Panganiban therefore the referee stopped their bout before the final bell in Lingayen while strong Richard Bacala claimed only bronze this time.
AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships competitor Dannel Maamo also proved strong performance in the men’s elite competition who did not give any chance to Jerson Bancil in the final of the Flyweight class (52 kg). Presco Carcosia won the gold medal at the Youth Bantamweight class (56 kg) in 2014 and now the young talent was able to beat all of his rivals including Rodex Piala in the elite age group.
Ramil Macado was an unknown boxer before the Philippine National Games but he is more than a powerful hope of the Light Flyweight class (49 kg). In the final of the Games he led by 10:9 in all judges against Martin Cordova after three minutes but the new talent was able to knock out his rival in the gold medal bout.
Carlo Paalam, Mark Lumbab and Mario Jaga Jr. proved the best performance among the youth athletes in the Philippine National Games and they have got the chance to fight for their nation in the upcoming ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships in Pavlodar. Cristian Pitt Laurente proved top performance in the junior events in 2015 therefore his gold in Lingayen was not a surprise but 15-year-old Dave Apolinario and Jestine Tesoro also delivered high quality of boxing in the Philippine Junior National Games.