BOXERS EFONDO AND SUMPAY GOLDS AT PSC ROTC NAT'L FINALS

Two aspiring members of the Philippine national team punched gold medals in the all-Philippine Army boxing finals of the 2023 Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Games National Finals yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RSMC) in Malate, Manila.

Joel Efondo dominated Vince Lomboy in the flyweight division, while Florence Sumpay scored a second-round RSC victory over Rodrigo Lumogda in the featherweight class.

"I didn't expect to win because my opponent is a knockout artist," said the 20-year-old HRM student of the Western Visayas Institute of Technology to Lomboy.

"But with the grace of the Lord, I was able to win," added the Visayas Leg (Iloilo) gold medalist.

Sumpay, a Bachelor Sports Science student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, used his strength to subdue the taller Lumogda in the second round.

"I really prepared for this finals because this is my chance to win gold for myself and my family," said Sumpay who reigned in the National Capital Region (NCR) Leg.

Aside from Efondo and Sumpay, Alfred Deslate also won the gold medal over Mark Paul Fernandez in men's bantamweight; Kristine Grace Marquez to Riona Segundo in women's featherweight; and Tina Pais to Edezza Lyne Laja at bantamweight.

In women's volleyball at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the University of Cagayan Valley defeated Rizal Technological University, 25-27, 25-22, 25-23, 10-25, 18-16; Guimaras State U defeated Western Mindanao State U, 25-14, 25-20, 25-14; and PHILSCA defeated NISU, 25-4, 25-13, 25-11.

In 3x3 basketball at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Western Institute of Technology and University of Makati advanced to the quarterfinals with their respective 3-0 records. (EM)

Florence Sumpay (Red) Champion) vs Rodrigo Lumogda (Blue) Photo credit/source: PSC Media Pool