NAYPYITAW—World champion Josie Gabuco was fighting for more than just the gleaming Southeast Asian Games gold medal.
The fearless lady pug from Puerto Princesa outclassed Indonesian Betarix Suguru in the first two rounds then relaxed for a 40-36, 40-36, 38-38 majority decision victory Saturday in the women’s light flyweight finals—a victory she offered to victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
“I’m happy I won another gold,” said Gabuco, who clinched a third SEA Games title after topping the pinweight division in the 2009 and 2011 editions.
“This is our way of lifting the spirits of the victims of Yolanda. We may not give financial support but we hope this will make the victims happy.”
Things quickly turned sour for the PH contingent as Nesthy Petecio dropped a majority decision to Myanmar’s New Ni Oo, 38-38, 37-39, 37-39, in the featherweight finals that had Filipino sports officials crying robbery.
Surprisingly not as aggressive as in previous matches, Petecio picked her spots and landed cleaner blows against the hometown bet, who was egged on by a noisy flag-waving gallery. In a stunning twist, Oo was given the decision.
Organizers couldn’t get the copy of the national anthem in time for Gabuco’s awarding and Filipino radio reporter Ric Yap Santos was asked to sing the Lupang Hinirang as the Philippine flag was raised.