PANABO CITY – A shower of gold under overcast skies washed down on the big hometown crowd Friday as Davao del Norte boxers won 11 gold medals in capturing the overall championship at the close of the PLDT-ABAP Mindanao Tournament at the New Pandan covered court here.

The threat of a forthcoming storm failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the thousand-plus spectators who momentarily went breathless after ring rival Misamis Oriental won the first two gold medals at stake, their bets winning in the 24kg and 26kg kids division.

But they exhaled as 28kg cotton weight Jerald Cantero took the measure of MisOr’s Elyde Pamisa, 14-10, and Cris Sander Laurente followed it up with a 6-1 triumph over Gingoog City’s Romel Tuyogon in the 30kg vacuum weight class, opening the floodgates.

General Santos took runner-up honors with five gold, thanks mainly to twin sensation Jake and Jade Bornea, both from Bula town in the former Dadiangas City, who ruled the 48kg light flyweight and 50kg flyweight categories, respectively.

MisOr wound up with four gold medals, its campaign coming to a standstill after victories by Julito Sumalinog (52kg) and Jerson Ladrada (54kg) in the junior boys division.

Ricky Vargas, Maynilad Water and ABAP president, was elated at the success of the five-day tourney, a cornerstone of ABAP’s talent search program.

“Yun ang kagandahan sa PLDT-ABAP program, we have a strong grassroots pipeline,” said Vargas, who awarded the medals, along with ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio and Smart Sports’ Epok Quimpo.

“Thanks to boxing stakeholders like Panabo, MisOr, etcetera. We started this program three years ago. There is a lot more to do. We remain focused and determined. Nagpapasalamat kami kay MVP, sa PLDT at Smart. Win or lose, basta para sa bayan, we will be there.”

Gregorio said ABAP is looking forward to next month’s Visayas Championship in Dumaguete and February’s National Championship in Tagbilaran.