Bago City sent a strong signal of intent in ending Davao Del Norte's reign in the youth division of the 2008 PLDT-Smart National Open, Youth and Women's Amateur Boxing Championships when it sent three boxers to the semifinals late Tuesday in Iloilo City.

Cottonweight Erick Jun Hondrado, school boys' junior mosquitoweight Rogen Ladon and junior paperweight campaigner Romel Tompong registered Referee Stopped Contest-Compulsory Count Limit victories as Bago, whose grassroots program produced Olympic medalists Mansueto and Roel Velasco, matched Davao with three semifinalists at the Robinsons Mall.

Hondrado stopped fellow Negrense Carmelo Bermejo of Talisay City, before Ladon, the younger brother of national team standout Joegin, overwhelmed Dannie Louie Codilla of Pit-os, Cebu. Tompong defeated Reymart San Antiporda of Talisay City.

But Davao del Norte, the four-time defending champion, kept in step with kids division cotton weight campaigner Michael John Bahena pulling off a points victory over Jenreyl Lago of Gingoog City; while school boys jr. mosquito weight and 2008 Palarong Pambansa champion Mark Anthony Barriga posted a RCS-outscored decision over on Robert Tampong from Palawan.

Another Palarong Pambansa champion from Davao del Norte, cadet flyweight Jerwin Ancajas registered a RSC-OS victory over Philfrancis Abanilla from North Cotabato.

Bacolod City, another traditional powerhouse, grabbed two semifinal seats, courtesy of cottonweight Elgine Hermedalla and school boys flyweight Genesis Servania, who earned a place in the team after emerging as the top boxer in the Rep. Monico Puentevella Golden Gloves tournament.

Gerson Nietes, cousin of WBO miniflyweight champ Donnie Nietes and the reigning Palaro best boxer from Bacolod, also reached the quarters of the school boys pinweight division, after Misamis Oriental's Daryl Basadre failed to show up for the bout.

Almost lost in the din of Bago and Davao's assault was the victory of Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr., the son of the two time world boxing champion from San Carlos City. Showing immense potential, Dodie Boy Jr., with his father manning his corner, hammered out an RSC-OC triumph over Resam Jale of Bilar Bohol.

At the start of senior's division action, lightflyweight Albert Pabila of the Philippine Air Force launched his title-retention bid on a winning note, by outscoring Cebu's Rinel Mandate, 28-7.

"I'm satisfied with my performance so far," the 23-year-old native of Bacolod City, who bagged a bronze medal in last year's Southeast Asian Games, said.

Lining himself up for a possible title duel with Pabila is Davao del Norte's Froilan Saludar, who was swift and merciless in a 23-3 demolition of Wilfren Papasin of Maasin, Saranggani.

Veterans Lhyven Salazar and June Ador Diamali secured two wins for defending senior champion Philippine Navy by defeating Dionisio Magarso of Iloilo and Philippine Air Force-A bet Elmer Pagdato, respectively. *

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