By REY C. LACHICA
PARIS – Carlo Paalam ended a string of disappointments for Team Philippines in style, scoring an impressive win over what he perceived to be the biggest stumbling block to his golden bid in the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, July 31, at the North Paris Arena.
Sharp and deadly with his counters, Paalam hacked out a unanimous win over Irish Jude Gallagher in the round-of-16 of the men’s 57kg class, a feat the lifted the dark clouds that threatened to envelope the entire delegation following the defeats by Eumir Marcial on Tuesday night and Hergie Bacyadan early in the afternoon.
Immediately after the end of the three-round contest, the Tokyo Games silver medalists raised both his fists in triumph, and perhaps in great relief, aware that one of the biggest thorns in his drive for redemption was finally removed.
“Super saya kasi mabigat tong kalaban kong ito,” said Paalam of his rival who shot to fame when he bagged the gold in the Commonwealth Games two years ago.
“Sa una hirap ako kaso pareho kami nagbabantayan, pero nang makuha ko na ang rhythm ko, dun na ako magsimula mag-atake,” said Paalam.
Even PH coach Elmer Pamisa was thrilled with Paalam’s superb performance, saying: “Maganda na ngayon laban para nakarating sa medal round.”
Wild chants of “Pilipinas! Pilipinas!” boomed each time Paalam managed to connect with either a counter or swift combinations to his 22-year-old rival.
So convincing was Paalam’s win that even POC supremo Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino finally heaved a huge sigh ofn relief.
“Tuloy-tuloy na yan.” Tolentino beamed.
Both fighters tried to size each other up early on although Paalam managed to sneak in some big shots that enabled him to grab lead at the end of the first canto.
