By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — And they’re now seven – magnificent 7.
This as five more Filipino boxers advanced to the gold-medal round Wednesday night, May 10, in the boxing competitions of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center here.
Siblings Nesthy and Norlan Petecio posted contrasting wins to headline the country’s push to win the sport’s overall championship.
Also winning were Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista and Fil-British John Marvin.
Nesthy, a 2021 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, crushed hometown bet Vy Sreysros via unanimous decision in the women’s 57kg semifinal, while younger brother Norlan posted a split decision over Jun Jie Velvan Tan of Singapore for a spot in the final in the men’s 67kg.
Ladon also prevailed via split decision over Malaysia’s Muhammad Abul Qaiyum Ariffin in the men’s 51kg even as Bautista downed Myanmar’s Naing Latt via unanimous decision in the men’s 57kg.
Not to be left out was Marvin, who worked his way in beating Cambodia’s naturalized fighter from Uzbekistan Nasredinov Anvar.
So far, seven Filipinos are in the finals with three more boxers in Carlo Paalam, Paul Julyfer Bascon and Markus Tongco clashing for a spot in the gold-medal round Thursday, May 11.
The other early finalists are Riza Pasuit and Irish Magno.
Only lightweight Mark Lester Durens and welterweight James Palicte have lost their preliminary bouts.
