By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense boxers posted mixed but productive results in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Thailand on Tuesday, December 16, with Flint Jara advancing to the gold medal bout and Riza Pasuit settling for a bronze medal.

Jara booked his place in the men’s 54-kilogram finals after defeating Singapore’s Ang Jin Yang via unanimous decision in the semifinals.

After a cautious opening round, Jara took control in the second, forcing a standing eight count and pulling away on the judges’ scorecards to seal the victory and assure the Philippines of at least a silver medal.

On the other hand, Pasuit earned a bronze medal despite falling in the semifinals of the women’s 60-kg class to Thailand’s Apisada Tantawa via a 5-0 decision.

Pasuit accepted her loss with grace, saying the outcome was in the hands of the judges.

“Siguro talo naman talaga ako. ‘Di ko rin masasabi na panalo ako. Nandyan naman ‘yung mga judge, so kung ano ‘yung nakita nila sa laban, siguro ginawa ko naman na ‘yung best ko para manalo,” Pasuit said.

“Madaming nagsasabi na bago pa [ako] umakyat, may result na ‘yung laban. Pero hindi ko na iniisip iyon. Laro pa rin tayo kasi pangit naman na sumurrender tayo nang hindi lumalaban,” she added.

Meanwhile, Jay Bryan Baricuatro also moved within a win of gold after overpowering Timor-Leste’s Antonio Hau da Silva in the semifinals of the men’s 48-kg division.

Baricuatro won by referee-stops-contest after scoring three standing eight counts in the opening round, prompting the referee to halt the bout.

Ofelia Magno also bowed out at the semifinal stage, dropping a 4-1 verdict to Vietnam’s Ngo Ngoc Linh Chi in the women’s 48-kg category.

Like Pasuit, Magno also claimed a bronze medal./ASC, WDJ

Caption

FLINT JARA (Facebook photo), RIZA PASUIT (Facebook photo)