By REY C. LACHICA
PARIS – Boxer Aira Villegas, a rookie trying to give her family everything following their harrowing experiences 11 years ago when Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban the hardest, was a bit sad and happy.
Villegas gave it her all in her redemption match, but her best still proved not enough and absorbed another 5-0 beating to Turkish Naz Buse Cakirogluin the women’s 50kg class in the Paris Olympics on a humid Tuesday night, Aug. 6, at the historic Roland Garros Stadium.
Recalling the days and nights they struggled in the aftermath of that devastation, the former peanut vendor could not help but be emotional, saying: “Walang natira sa amin nun, pero dahil sa pagsisikap namin, nakakabawi naman kami.”
Yes, especially after embracing boxing to the max.
Her failed but courageous performance still assured the pride of Tacloban of a bronze medal worth a whopping P2 million under the Republic Act 10699 or National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
“Mapupunta lahat yan sa pamilya ko, especially my parents,” said Villegas.
She stands to receive more with House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez being the proud son of the seashore city. Boxing patron Manny V. Pangilinan is likewise expected to hand her a financial package when they go home.
Villegas’ bronze medal feat was the country’s 9th in the discipline since Jose Villanueva won a bronze medal in the 1932 Games.
Other big performers were Villanueva’s son Anthony in 1964, followed by Leopoldo Serrantes (1988), Roel Velasco (1992), Onyok Velasco (1996), Nesthy Petecio (2020), Carlo Paalam (2020) and Eumir Marcial (2020).
With Villegas’ accomplishment, the Phillipines now have three medals — two golds courtesy of gymnast ace Carlos Yulo, and a bronze.
The country is also assured of another bronze through Petecio, who is battling a dangerous rival in the 57kg class at presstime.
Villegas, who was influenced to take the sport by her brother who once played in the Palarong Pambansa and is now an accomplished referee, took the loss in stride.
“Magaling talaga,” said Villegas of her rival who reigned in the World Championships two years ago in Istanbul, Turkey.
In ruling her division in that event, Cakiroglu beat several rising stars along the way and Villegas was one of them.
Even PH coach Rey Galido accepted Villegas’ defeat but what gave him the fits was when the Canadian referee ignored what appeared to be a clean shot – a straight – by Villegas to Cakiroglu’s kisser.
“Sayang yon, sana hindi 5-0, kahit 3-2 sana OK lang,” rued Galido.
It could have changed the complexion of the game, but Villegas had no complain even though she bloodied her Turkish rival with that shot.
“Mas technical and maano talaga siya sa akin,” said Villegas. “Nakita ko dumugo ang bibig nya.”
But for Villegas, her experience and the lessons learned from this grandest stage would be enough motivation to pursue her Olympic dream even more.
“Trabaho pa rin po kasi hindi pa natatapos dito ang lahat,” Villegas declared with a smile
“As a rookie, to reach this far is already an achievement. Na-overachieved ko na ang gusto ko,” said Villegas, who was given a standing 8-count in the first round.
True to her promise, Villegas tried to dominate the fight early on but the Turkish wisely and brilliantly evaded her combos while she managed to tag the Filipino fighter occasionally with big hits of her own.
The Criminology student of the University of Baguio had her shining moment in the second round but it was not good enough to convince the judges.
The win enabled the Turkish to earn the right Chinese top seed Wu Yu in the finals on Friday, Aug. 9.
Like the Turkish, Wu was equally spectacular in her 4-1 win over Kazakhstan Nasym Kyzaibay in the other semis match.
