By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Two more boxers progressed to the gold-medal round in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after toppling their rivals Thursday, May 11, at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center here.
Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam outclassed Timor Leste’s Edegar Foe Quintas Da Silva on the way to unanimous decision in the men’s 54kg, while Paul Julyfer Bascon knocked out Cambodian Touch David in the second round of the men’s 60kg to gain a shot at the gold medal.
Paalam’s victory arranged him a finals match against Vietnam’s Van An Tran, who beat Indonesia’s Aldoms Suguro via unanimous decision.
Bascon, on the other hand, set up a meeting with Thailand’s Rujakran Jungtrong, who also won via unanimous decision over Malaysian Muhammad Ridzuan Mohd Johari.
Markus Tongco was the lone PH casualty, absorbing an RSC defeat to Vietnam’s Manh Cuong Nguyen in their men’s 92kg semis bout. He settled for the bronze medal.
In all, 9 PH boxers will be going for golds on Saturday, May 13.
Other finalists were siblings Nesthy and Norlan Petecio, Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista, Fil-British John Marvin, Irish Magno and Riza Pasuit.
