Jins Romero, Lopez collar two bronzes

NAYPYITAW—Taekwondo jins Pauline Louise Lopez and Paul Romero found gold a rare commodity in the 27th Southeast Asian Games here Friday.

After featherweight Jade Zafra’s golden exploit the other day, Lopez and Romero only managed a pair of bronzes after failing to get past the semifinals of their respective divisions at Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium.

Lopez, the women’s under 53 kg champion in the 2013 Asian Youth Games, bowed to Vietnam’s Thanh Thao Nguyen, 0-4, despite using a tactical strategy of fiercely going for the kill.

Always the aggressor, Romero, bronze medalist in the 2010 Asian Games, lost to Malaysia’s Ryan Chong Wu Lunn, 4-6, in the men’s under 63 kg.

“She’s always on attack mode but the Vietnamese successfully sneaked in kicks that hit the target,” said coach Roberto “Kitoy” Cruz, a 2000 Sydney Olympian and six-time SEA Games champion.

Launching her attack with a high-pitched scream, the Ateneo de Manila freshman caught Nguyen several times but didn’t connect hard enough to merit points.

Nguyen stayed out of reach from Lopez then countered with clear shots to the body.

Romero, a commerce graduate from University of Santo Tomas, gained the upperhand early, but the Malaysian managed to level the count at 4-all before digging in a side kick to Romero’s ribs.

“We were able to block his strikes and avoid his strong leg but Paul unfortunately got hit by that side kick,” said coach Dindo Simpao.

Erika Mora missed out on a medal after Thailand’s Phannapa Harnsujin dominated the Filipino, 13-0, in the bantamweight quarterfinals.

Aside from Zafra, the trio of Dustin Jacob Mella, Vidal Marvin Gabriel and Raphael Mella also won a gold in men’s poomsae.