By REY C. LACHICA
HANGZHOU, China – Eumir Marcial was up against the reigning SEA Games champion Weerapon Jongjoho of Thailand Sunday.
But it was the flamboyant Filipino who showed what grit and class meant as he carved out a sensational second round knockout win in their quarterfinal showdown in the men’s -80kg class to assure himself a bronze medal in the 19th Asian Games at the Hangzhou Gym here.
Marcial’s win did not come easy as the prized fighter of Zamboanga City survived a standing 8-count with a little over 2 minutes into the first round after being hit with a booming right straight to the jaw.
“Kinabahan ako dun kasi nahilo ako pero hindi ako nagpahalata. Alam kong yun ang malakas,” said the Tokyo Game bronze medal winner.
Marcial pressed his attack in the second round as he fought like a windmill before landing a perfect 1-2 combination.
First, a whistling straight before unleashing the heaviest one – a crackling right hook –– that ended the match as Marcial sent the taller Thai rival to the canvas with only 14 ticks left.
Immediately, Marcial jumped with glee and thanked the Lord for the win.
“Alam kong lamang siya kaya humanap ako ng timing at tinodo na,” said the 27-year-old Marcial.
Marcial came into the game reinvigorated by the win over Vietnamese Nguyen Manh Cuong in the Round of 16.
He will go for the final berth against a Syrian rival.
Meantime, Gilas Women suffered a 96-59 loss at the hands of taller and quicker Japanese squad at the close of the group eliminations at the Olympic Stadium.
Despite the 37-point beating, the Pat Aquino-mentored squad still made it to the quarters against a rival still to be determined.
In women’s softball, the Blu Girls and Taiwanese clash anew at 3 p.m. on Monday with the winner securing a bronze.
The Japanese had earlier beaten the Blu Girls, 6-4. Fighting for the gold are the Japanese and Chinese.
Other athletics results saw long jumper Janry Ubas and William Morrison finish outside of the top 5 with the former settling for 7th place on 7.80 meters won by Chinese Wang Jianan 8.22m.
Morrison, on the other hand, was a far 11th in 13 participants in men’s shot put won by Indian Tajinderpal Too.
The Indian heaved the iron ball to a distance of 20.36 meters while Morrison managed only 16.98m at the Olympic Stadium.
