Morrison on Vietnamese opponent: He had no fire in his eyes

Gold medalist Samuel Thomas Morrison of the Philippines during the awarding ceremony of the 28th SEA Games mens under 68kg final held at the Singapore Expo Hall 2 after defeating Trung Duc Phan of Vietnam.
INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

SINGAPORE — “I saw that he lost fire in his eyes.”

Twenty-five-year-old Samuel Morrison took that as a cue to go for the kill — or gold for that matter — against his Vietnamese opponent late Sunday in the action-packed taekwondo competitions.

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“I was very pumped up when I came to the finals but I saw his face and there was no fire in it,” said Morrison, a son of a retired American marine serviceman now based in Maryland. “My goal then is that by the second round, it should be over.”

True enough, the 2014 World University Championship gold medalist piled up a big points in the first two rounds to finish off Vietnam’s Phan Trung Duc (19-12) for the men’s 68kg gold.

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“I offer this win to God, my teammates and coaches,” said Morrison, a tall, rangy volume kicker who is also captain of the men’s team.

“All the hard work paid off. I’m very thankful,” added the Olongapo-born Morrison who came from the World Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia prior to the the SEA Games here.

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His victory sparked a late charge for the PH jins who were embattled the first two days in combat disciplines, as it was followed by another golden turn by Pauline Lopez. CFC