Ex-boxing champ’s nephew wins gold at ROTC Games

MANILA – Carlo Espinosa of the La Concepcion College - Bulacan bagged the men's 57-60kg event in the Air Force division of the Philippine Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Games - Luzon leg at the Tagaytay Combat Sports Center in Cavite on Thursday.

The nephew of former world boxing champion Luisito Espinosa beat Ridge Aqui Burgos of the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in a referee-stopped contest with 5 seconds left in the first round.

"My training was worth it. I think that the fight becomes easy if one gets so tired in training," said Carlo, an incoming third-year BS Criminology student.

"I will prepare for the national finals. I expect stronger opponents, especially those from Cebu and other parts of Visayas and Mindanao."

The National Finals is scheduled in Indang, Cavite on Aug. 18-24.

Other winners were John Ramgel Calupez of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (men's lightweight) and Cyril John Delfin of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (men's light welterweight) in the Navy; Ferdinand Melegrito of the Angeles University Foundation (men's featherweight) in the Air Force; and April Rose Lacson of Tarlac State University (women's flyweight) in the Army.

Meanwhile, the Army got three gold medals from Edrian Anselmo (men's finweight), Mike Salceda (men's bantamweight) and Selah Pilla (women's flyweight) of RTU-Boni in the taekwondo competition at the Tolentino Sports Complex and Activity Center.

The Bulacan Agricultural State College and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture also pocketed two gold medals each for the Army.

In arnis, RTU-Boni's Maria Mae Ballester and Henry Soriano topped the women's and men's non-traditional single weapon, respectively in the Army division.

In athletics, De La Salle University won the women's 4x100m relay (1:04.4) over Westmead (1:05.3) and Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (1:07.4) in the Navy division at the Cavite State University (CvSU) track oval.

RTU-Boni secured the women's 4x100m relay gold medal in the Army division, while Fullbright College triumphed in the Air Force division. (PNA)