Tipon’s boxing protégé leads Army show in ROTC Games National Finals

By Edwin Rollon

A protégé of an Asian Games champion took the spotlight in an all-Philippine Army show in the culmination of boxing competition in the inaugural Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Games National Finals on Thursday at the Dacudao gymnasium inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Malate, Manila.

Florence Sumpay, trained since the young age of 12 by Doha Asian Games (2006) gold medalist Joan Tipon, wowed the crowd which included Senator Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino with his speed, punching style, and showmanship which proved too much for his rival Rodrigo Lumogda as he claimed the men’s featherweight (57kgs.) gold medal via Referee-Stopped-Contest in the second round.

“Masayang-masaya po ako. Gusto ko pong manalo para maipakita kina coach Joan (Tipon) at coach Rennel (Flechero) na hindi saying yung sakripisyo nila,” said Sumpay.

Sumpay, and his brother who is also a varsity boxer at the Rizal Technological University, are part of a group of youngsters who spend their afternoon playing and training at the PNP gymnasium with Tipon.

“Tuwing hapon kung may pagkakataon sinasanay kami ni coach Tipon. Siya yung nagdevelop sa speed at trajectory sa direction ng mga suntok, si coach Rennel naman sa strength and power,” added the 19-year-old first year student in Sports and Sciences.

“Saka talaga pong ipinangako ko sa tatay ko at sa pamilya ko na iuuwi ko ang gold,” said Sumpay, who also dedicated his win to his father Romeo who still nursing an injury after a motorcycle mishap. “Actually, bago ang laban siya ang nasa isip ko, kasi bago ang aksidente kahapon, galing siya rito at inihatid ako,”

For his part, Tipon, also a SEA Games multi-medalist, stressed that training a disciplined boxer like Sumpay is the best that could happen for a coach.

“Masaya akong makita yung mga tinuturuan ko, nananalo. Masarap yung feeling na maibahagi yung mga natutunan ko nung nasa national team pa ako,” said Tipon, who retired from the sport in 2012 to focus on coaching.

Kristine Grace Marquez captured the women’s featherweight gold with a scintillating first-round referee-stopped-contest against Rinoa Segundo, while former Batang Pinoy standout (2018) Tina Pais, a 20-year-old University of Baguio student, grabbed the other women’s class gold at stake beating Laja Edezza Lyne via points (5-0) in their bantam 51-54kg duel.

Alfred Deslate grabbed the men’s bantam 51-54kg title via an RSC in the third round over Mark Paul Fernandez, while Joel Efondo ruled the men’s fly 48-51kg over Vince Lomboy on points (5-0).

Over at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the Western Institute of Technology (WIT) and the University of Makati currently lead their respective brackets in 3×3 basketball with identical 3-0 win-loss records.

WIT’s triumphs came at the expense of Our Lady of Lourdes Technological College, 19-17; Tanauan Institute Inc., 20-15; and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, 21-18. UMak, meanwhile, prevailed over the University of Cagayan Valley, 20-15; Cavite State University, 22-15; and Our Lady of Triumph Institute of Technology-Pagadian, 21-13.

With the four-gold onslaught in boxing, the Philippine Army is poise to win the overall championship in the battle for the branch of service even as Rizal Technological University leads the Higher Educational Institute (HEI) medal tally.

The Army men are currently at the top of the leaderboard after the culmination of athletics, arnis, and boxing with a total of 28 medals (14 golds, 7 silver, and 7 bronze), followed by the Philippine Navy with 20 medals (5 golds, 5 silver, and 10 bronze). In comparison, Air Force collected 10 medals (1 gold, 4 silver, and five bronze) with the remaining events – kickboxing with a total of eight gold medals at stake- still favoring the men in the field, while basketball 3×3 and volleyball are offering only one gold each and four in the Esports.

The semifinalists in kickboxing are Camille Joy Sanchez winner by points (3-0) over Alessa Ibo Araque and Betty Mae Churping (KO) over Jessa Mae Regidor for the female 52 kgs.; Kieran Castro (KO) over Mary Grace Pineda, Minya Isabella Sta. Rosa (2-1) against Daniela Ira Astor, Kristel Grace Llenas (3-0) over Grace Shiela Toledo, and Reyna Anita Delos Reyes (3-0) over Joylyn Arinas for the women’s 60 kgs.; Manuel Roxas (TKO) over John Carlo De Chavez, Christopher Manipon (3-0) over John Michael Etac, Roberto Pedriquez (3-0) against McDaniel Lauzon for the men’s 57 kgs.;

Jonathan Cadiena (3-0) over Franzuie Ortega Olor, Mar Christian Ursabi (TKO) over Alico Moni Joshua, Ghen-Yan Berdon (TKO) over Federico Saclet and Richerstone Angelos Fesetan (3-0) over Geron Mark Pugao in the male 60 kgs class; Klenov Rei Pacada (3-0) over Nelson Alcon, Klier Abueva (AB) over Dominic Boligan, Shariff Alkhamar (3-0) over Abdurahman Abbas; and Lloyd Salva (WO) over John Gabriel Gonzales in the male 63.5 kgs. class.

Meantime, the Rizal Technological University, under the banner of the Army, is currently leading the HEI podium finishers winning 6 gold and 2 silver medals, followed by Adamson University (Navy, 4-2-3). Completing the top 5 are the University of Cagayan Volley (Navy, 1-2-3), the University of Baguio (Army, 1-1), and the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (Air Force, 1-0-1).