Petecio kisses Olympic bid good-bye

QINHUANGDAO, China – The PLDT-ABAP women’s team ‘s bid to qualify for the Olympics fizzled out as Nesthy Petecio suffered a close 10-11 decision loss to Valeria Calabrese of Italy at the lone qualifying event for women – the AIBA World Women’s Championships – at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium here.

The fiercely fought bout was highlighted by some one-upmanship as the 20-year-old Filipina was wrestled to the canvass several times in the third and fourth rounds.

The first round  was even at 2-2, the second went to Petecio, 6-5, then the Italian was given the third at 9-8.

Both fighters picked up two points each in the final round, giving Calabrese the one-point edge.

Petecio, the lone Filipino entry in the Olympic 51 kg. flyweight division, was despondent but said “I really tried my best but I guess this wasn’t for me. I’m sorry I let my countrymen down.”

There are only three Olympic weight divisions for women –flyweight (51 kg), lightweight (60 kg) and middleweight (75 kg).

Her two teammates, however, won in their opening matches but these were in non-Olympic events.

Alice Kate Aparri beat Brazilian Cielia Costa, 15-11, in the 54 kg bantamweight division to set up a second round meeting with Nimini Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka.

Aparri,  the World Championship bronze medallist, led after a 1-1 stand-off in the first. Then, the 27-year-old Baguio City native started dominating at  8-4, 11-8 and finally 15-11.

Josie Gabuco, 25, pummelled her gutsy Venezuelan opponent Yarineth Gonzalez Altuve,  6-3, 13-6, 18-9, 24-13. The Puerto Princesa lass scored repeatedly on accurate right straights and left hooks to the head even as the Venezuelan led off with combinations that rarely hit their mark.

Gabuco faces a tough Mongolian in Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag in the second round on Tuesday.

The latter won the gold medal in the 48 Kg light-flyweight class in the recent Asian Women’s Championships in Ulanbaatar.

The Filipina women boxers are coached by national coaches Elias Recaido Jr and Mitchel Martinez. Team manager is AIBA international technical official and Asian Women’s Boxing Commission member Karina Picson.