PH fighter rues biased judging in title bout

PHUKET, Thailand—Phillip Delarmino was on target with his signature kicks and was clearly the more dominant fighter.

But the five judges saw otherwise and gave Parin Luangpon of host Thailand a 4-1 victory over Delarmino in the muay 54 kg finals of the 4th Asian Beach Games here on Sunday.

“You saw the fight, I clearly won it,” said the 24-year-old from Dumangas, Iloilo, who settled for the silver as the best finisher among the four-member muay squad.

For three rounds, Delarmino delivered a variety of kicks that disfigured the face and bloodied the lips of Luangpon.

But the 2013 Burma Southeast Asian Games silver medalist later said he needed more to win.

“I failed to knock him out,” said Delarmino. “But [still] I took the first and third rounds. It’s disappointing.”

Confident of a victory, Delarmino draped the Philippine flag around his shoulders and raised both fists when the ring announcer was about to declare the winner.

He ended up shaking his head in disbelief.

Delarmino’s silver improved the Philippine output to three gold, two silver and seven bronze medals in a tie with Hong Kong at 14th overall.

It was still the finest overall performance of Filipino athletes since the Games began in 2008 in Bali.

“I couldn’t ask for more,” said Philippine chef de mission Richard Gomez. “We were hoping to win just a gold because we haven’t won before. Our athletes gave us three.”

A total of 77 Filipino athletes competed in 16 sports.

Known in MMA circles as “The Destroyer,” Delarmino attacked Luangpon with kicks before the Thai got back in the second round by trapping Delarmino in a clinch.

Thailand captured the overall title with a 56-36-33 medal haul.

China finished second (16-11-21) and South Korea third (9-14-14).