FILE-The Philippines’ Rogen Ladon, right, fights Thailand’s Yaodam Ammarit during the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Sherwin Vardeleon/INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Three Filipino boxers assured themselves of bronze medals in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Sunday.
Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista and Riza Pasuit secured podium finishes after advancing to the semifinals in their respective divisions.
Ladon, a two-time SEA Games gold medalist, scored a unanimous decision win over Indonesia’s Ingatan Ilahi in the flyweight quarterfinal. He faces Muhammad Abdul Qaiyum Ariffin of Malaysia for a spot in the gold medal match.
Bautista, also a SEA Games double gold medalist, beat Van Duong Nguyen via referee stoppage due to injury after inflicting a cut on the Vietnamese’s left eyebrow in their featherweight duel. He takes on Asri Udin of Indonesia in the semis.
Pasuit had a tougher time after topping Huswatun Hasanah of Indonesia by split decision, 3-2, in a women’s light welterweight bout. She clashes with Singapore’s Sabrina Faizal in the semis on Tuesday.
The Philippine boxing team, however, suffered a casualty with James Palicte losing to Van Ratha of Cambodia via split decision in the light welterweight quarterfinals.
But more Filipino boxers are eyeing sure bronzes on Monday including Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam.
Paalam battles Malaysian Daeloniel McDelon in the bantamweight quarterfinals while another Filipino in Paul Bascon makes his Games debut against Vietnam’s Thanh Dat Vu in the light welterweight class.