Petecio nails bantam gold

FILIPINA boxer Nesthy Petecio finally got back at Thai rival Paemwilat Laopeam to capture the gold medal in the bantamweight class of the Indonesia President’s Cup in Palembang Sports and Convention Center in Palembang over the weekend.

It was sweet revenge for the 23-year-old Petecio, the Davao del Sur fighter, who dropped a controversial loss to Paemwilat four years ago in the Southeast Asian Games held in the same venue despite jarring the Thai with a solid left that led to a standing eight-count.

“I really wanted to get back at her because what happened to me back then was too painful,” said Petecio, who was also voted Best Female Boxer of the tourney, in Filipino.

But the men’s team could only come up with a silver courtesy of Mario Fernandez in the bantamweight division.

Fernandez, the SEA Games champion from Bukidnon, bowed to Tsenbataar of Mongolia in the final. Joel Bacho settled for bronze in the light welter class.