NAY PYI TAW – Seven Filipino boxers punched their way to the finals yesterday, assuring themselves of at least as many silvers, as they gun for the gold in the men’s and women’s title matches of the 27th Southeast Asian Games today at the boxing gymnasium of the Wunnum Theikdi National Sports Complex.
Lightflyweight Mark Anthony Barriga, bantamweight Mario Fernandez, lightweight Junel Cantancio, light welterweight Dennis Galvan and middleweight (75 kg) Wilfredo Lopez disposed of their semifinal opponents to join early women’s qualifiers Nesthy Petecio (57 kg) and 2011 winner Josie Gabuco (46-48 kg) in the finals set today at the same venue.
Barriga, back in top form after a one-month stint in Italy, fought off a game Malaysian Mohd Fuad Moh relentlessly until the final bell and romped off with a 30-27, 30-27, 27-29 decision to earn the Philippines’ first finals berth in the men’s division.
Except for a swollen head from an errant elbow as he ducked a shot by the Malaysian, the 20-year-old Olympian came out unscathed in a bout marked by wild exchanges between fighters of the same attacking style.
Filipino physical therapists took turns to reduce the swelling through cold compress while Barriga watched the fight between Indonesia and Laos for the other final slot.
The winner was tough Indonesian Kionelis Kwangu Langu, who won over Laotian Bounpone Lasavonesy on all scorecards, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.
“I know how to counter his style,†said Barriga, who surged past the first round in last year’s Olympic Games in London.
Rey Saludar, the 2010 Asian Games gold medalist, lost to hometown hero Mg Nge in the flyweight (52kg) class, but Fernandez stepped into the ring with vengeance in his eyes as he clobbered Trab Quoc Viet of Vietnam in the bantamweight (56 kg) category, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27.
Airman First Class Cantancio, nephew of 1964 Olympian Leopoldo Cantancio, blazed past Laotian Keochi Kayyasane, 29-26, 30-27, 30-27, in the lightweight class and fellow Airman Galvan, the 2011 SEA Games champion, ousted another Indonesian Ericok Amanopunyo, 28-29, 29-28, 29-28.
Lopez capped the Filipinos’ five-of-six conquest with a 28-29, 29-28, 29-28 decision over Alex Tatontos of Indonesia.
With their semifinal wins the Filipino boxers are on track to exceed the four-gold medal output of the 2011 boxing team and regain overall supremacy in the sport.
But Thailand looks headed to regaining the overall tile with two women and six male fighters in the finals. The only Thai to fall was Thasamalee Thonjan, who lost to Petecio.