PH bets Gabuco, four others enter SEA Games boxing finals

Josie Gabuco (L) of Philippines. AFP FILE PHOTO

SINGAPORE — Three-time Southeast Asian Games champion Josie Gabuco overwhelmed her Singaporean foe while Ian Clark Bautis-ta knocked out his Laotian rival to lead three other Filipinos into the boxing finals here Monday.

The 20-year-old Bautista, fighting in the flyweight division, decked Thongbang Seuphom with 1:13 gone in the second round to score the day’s most lopsided win for Filipino fighters.

He will fight for the gold against Singaporean Mohamed Hamid, who decisioned Burma’s Maung Nge, 3-0.

Using her vast experience and under instructions to dominate the fight to avoid a hometown decision, the 28-year-old Gabuco outpunched Leona Hui, 3-0, in the women’s light fly semifinals.

“I feel very nervous and excited at the same time,” said Gabuco in Filipino as she cooled down at Singapore Expo Hall 1.

She next faces Thailand’s Raksat Chutnamat, who defeated Vietnam’s Thi Ngoc Anh, 3-0.

Gabuco is aching for revenge as the Thai bested her in their first clash early this year in China.

“I will do my best for the country,” said Gabuco, single mother to an eight-year-old boy.

Flyweight Irish Magno followed her to the finals with a stunning 2-0 win over defending champion Sopida Satumrum of Thailand.

Visibly relieved, the 23-year-old Magno said she prepared hard against the Thai whom she knocked down in the first round.

Magno will seek the gold against Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Yen, who bested Singapore’s Ang Fen Ni by technical knockout.

Nesthy Petecio and Rogen Ladon also reached the gold-medal round with Petecio whipping Ester Kalayukin of Indonesia, 3-0, in women’s bantam action and the flyweight Ladon, routing Lasa-vongsy Baunphone of Laos, 3-0.

Petecio will seek the gold versus Vietnam’s Le Thi Bang, a 3-0 winner over Burma’s OO Nwe Ni while Ladon clashes with Indonesian Kornelis Langu, who beat Huynh Ngoc Tan of Vietnam, 3-0.

The Filipinos’ winning run was halted after featherweight Risa Pasuit bowed to Indonesia’s Christi Jembay, 3-0.

Still on track for finals berths are bantam Mario Fernandez, lightweight Junnel Cantancio, welterweight Eumir Marcial and middleweight Wilfredo Lopez.