Petecio exacts revenge, gets golden crack

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar—Nesthy Petecio settled an old score Monday and assured the Philippines of at least a silver medal in women’s boxing in the 27th Southeast Asian Games here.

Ranged against the first boxer who beat her in an international tournament, Petecio brandished a much improved arsenal of punches on the way to a 40-36 conquest of Thailand’s Tassamalee Tsongjan in their featherweight semifinal duel at  Wunna Theikdi Stadium.

The 21-year-old Petecio kept the Thai at close range and scored heavily on a flurry of uppercuts as she  avenged her  narrow defeat in the 2010 Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam.

“I showed her I was a better boxer now,” said Petecio, a prized find from Davao del Sur, who will face New Ni Oo of Myanmar for the gold medal.

“I have no footage of her previous fights, but I know in my mind that I am ready to face her. I remember her tactics and the way she had beaten me in Vietnam three years ago.”

Petecio’s victory kept boxing’s record unblemished in the competition, where seven of 10 PH bets have already reached the semifinals either after drawing a bye or due to lack of competitors in their respective weight classes.

The PH boxing team won four golds in Palembang, Indonesia, two years ago.

Olympian Mark Barriga makes his debut in the light flyweight division Tuesday against Vietnamese Hyun Ngoc Viet, the same fighter he beat in the world championships this year.

Lightweight bet Junel Cantancio seeks a place in the semifinals as he squares off with Keochi Xayyasone of Laos.

Flyweight Rey Saludar, bantamweight Mario Fernandez and welterweight Wilfredo Lopez earlier drew byes in the men’s division while bantamweight Iris Magno and flyweight Maricris Igam advanced in the women’s category,  where light flyweight Josie Gabuco has already clinched a semifinal spot due to lack of entries in the division.

Light welterweight Dennis Galvan also reached the semifinals after beating Ratha Svay of Cambodia.