Lizardo, Alora secure jins four-gold haul

JAKARTA – Veteran campaigners John Paul Lizardo and Kirstie Alora delivered in the waning hours of taekwondo competitions, enabling the Phl jins to surpass their modest three-gold target in the 26th Southeast Asian Games.

Lizardo reigned supreme in the men’s 58kg while Alora emerged on top in the women’s 73kg – the coup de grace in the Philippines’ four-gold harvest at the POPKI Sport Hall in Cibubur district.

The Philippines went close to making it 3-of-3 on the final day of taekwondo action but Alexander Briones failed to deliver, hobbled by a suspected fractured foot.

Briones went straight to the hospital at the close of the tourney where the Philippines struck two golds earlier courtesy of Camille Manalo and the women’s poomsae team.

Phl taekwondo coach Rocky Samson had said they would be happy to win three golds.

The last two Phl gold medal winners went through the proverbial eye of the needle to emerge on top.

Lizardo played three tough matches, the last he won over Thai Jerranat Nakaviroj, 3-2, while Alora beat Indon Eka Sahara in a sudden death in the finals.

Lizardo repulsed Malaysia’s Ryan Chong Wy Lunn, 10-2, in the quarterfinals then overcame Singaporean Jason Junwei Tan, 7-6, in the semis.

The men’s 58kg champ decked Tan with a powerful head kick in the last 11 seconds to complete a come-from-behind win.