MANILA – Negrense Ian Clark Bautista emerged as the lone winner among four Western Visayas-based boxers that competed for gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Saturday at the Chong Charvay Convention Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
A native of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, Bautista retained his featherweight category gold medal following a one-sided unanimous decision victory over Indonesian fighter Asri Udin.
The 28-year-old was dominant with his solid combinations in the first two rounds before keeping a safe distance from Udin in the early goings of the third round until he solidified his win with a standing eight-count on the Indonesian foe late in the match.
Rogen Ladon, who is from Bago City, Negros Occidental, failed to defend his SEA Games gold medal in the flyweight division following a unanimous decision loss to Thai boxer Thanarat Saengphet.
Iloilo’s Irish Magno and Bacolod City’s Risa Pasuit also ended with silvers after losing to Thai fighter Jutamas Jitpong and Vietnam’s Thi Linh Ha, respectively, in the women’s boxing finals.
Negrense swimmer Alexi Cabayaran settled for a silver medal finish in women’s 200-m Bi Fins, while Bacolodnon Johann Chua and Carlo Biado earned a bronze in men’s 9-ball pool doubles.
Negrense Bernalyn Bejoy also captured a silver medal for Team Philippines in the women’s 4×400 meter relay event along with Jessel Lumapas, Robyn Brown and Maureen Schrijvers.
The men’s quartet of Frederick Ramirez, Joyme Sequita, Michael Carlo del Prado, and Umajesty Williams finishes with gold in men’s 4x400m relay, while Gennah Malapit and Evalyn Palabrica had a silver-bronze finish in women’s javelin throw.
The pair of Ruben Gonzales and Francis Alcantara also delivered the gold medal for Team Philippines in the men’s tennis doubles finals after a come-from-behind win over Indonesia, 2-6, 7-5 and 10-5.
Team Philippines clinched several golds in taekwondo courtesy of Kirstie Elaine Alora, Samuel Morrison, Arven Alcantara and Kurt Barbora in kyorugi, Patrick Perez in single poomsae and Aidaine Laxa, Jocel Ninobla, and Nicole Labayne women’s poomsae team.
Perez, Ian Matthew Corton and Joaquin Tuazon won a bronze in men’s recognized poomsae team, Ninobla and Corton in mixed team poomsae, while Darius Venerable, Jeordan Dominguez, Justine Macario, Juvenile Crisostomo and Zyka Santiago bagged bronze in mixed freestyle team.
Team Philippines also got four silver medals in weightlifting from John Ceniza (men’s 61kg), Lovely Inan (women’s 49kg), Angeline Colonia (women’s 45kg) and Rosalinda Faustino (women’s 55kg) and another silver from wushu courtesy of Gideon Padua.
In fencing, Sam Catantan and Sammuel Tranquilan captured silver medals each, while Ivy Claire Dinoy ended with bronze, while gymnast Charmaine Dolar and cyclist Ronald Oranza bagged a bronze medal each./PN
