By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia —Three more fighters bested their respective opponents to advance to the semifinals in the boxing competitions in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Chroy Changvar Convention Center here Monday night, May 8.
Tokyo Olympic silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio, as well as Paul Julyfer Bascon, posted contrasting victories to join fellow semifinalists Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista, Norlan Petecio, John Marvin, Riza Pasuit, Irish Magno, and Markus Tongco.
All 10 boxers are already assured of bronze medals.
Paalam beat Daeloniel Mc D of Malaysia via unanimous decision in the men’s 54kg, Petecio won via referee-stopped-contest against Laos’ Minavanh Oupaxa in the women’s 57kg, and Bascon edged Thanh D of Vietnam via split decision in the men’s 54kg.
Not lucky was Mark Lester Jurens who lost to Dio Koebanu of Indonesia in the men’s 48kg via unanimous decision.
Petecio next facesCambodian Vy Sreysros, Paalam collides with Timor Leste’s Edegar Da Silva, and Bascon tangles with hometown bet Touch Davit.
At press time, Magno and Pasuit are battling their semis matches against Indonesia’s Novita Sinadia and Singapore’s Nur Sabriana Binte Mohd Faizal, respectively.
