University of Baguio students and Olympic silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam led the national boxing team to a 4-5-1, gold-silver-bronze medal haul in the Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh in Cambodia this week.
That after nine of the country’s 10 boxers barged into the finals at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center in the Cambodian capital.
Petecio and Paalam led seven of the Pinoy boxers including the former’s sibling Norlan, back to back time champion Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista, John Marvin as well as Irish Magno, Riza Pasuit and Paul Bascon.
The 10th fighter, Marcus Tongco, however, earlier lost in the semifinals to settle for a bronze medal.
The Tokyo games silver medalist Nesthy defeated Indonesian Ratna Sari Devi to win the featherweight as a redemption after settling for bronze last year in Vietnam.
Paalam took the bantamweight crown by defeating Indonesian Sugoro, while Ian Clark Bautista was the winner in the featherweight division by outclassing Asri Udin, also of Indonesia. Bascom was the lightweight winner by outclassing Thai Rujakran Juntrong.
The other Petecio, Norlan, however, lost in the men’s 67kg. to Thai Bunjong Sinsiri to settle for the silver medal.
Ladon, also of UB, failed to make it three in a row in the flyweight division when he lost to Thai Thanarat Saengphet.
Magno (women’s bantamweight) fell to Thai Jutamas Jitpong in the finals, while Pasuit (women’s light welterweight) fell victim to Vietnamese Ha Thi Linh.
John Marvin, the United Kingdom based light heavyweight also lost in the finals to Weerapon Jongjoho of Thailand.
Thailand ruled the event anew with nine gold medals, on top of two silvers and a lone bronze medal.
As of Wednesday morning, the Filipino athletes have 58-86-116 and good for sixth spot, behind host Cambodia. Vietnam is expected to rule the event, with Thailand as bridesmaid and Indonesia at third. Pigeon Lobien
