ShareThisGUANGZHOU, China — Boxer Rey Saludar comforted national pride last week in a stunning 13-11 win over local boy Chang Yong in the 52 kgs division for the Philippines’ third gold medal in the Asian Games.
Equally valiant but less fortunate, Annie Albania (48-51 kgs) lost to China’s Ren Cancan, 5-7, in a bout where scoring left a lot to be desired.
Saludar, who outshone Bill Vicera in the evaluation of the boxing association prompting his last minute inclusion, overwhelmed the Chinese fighter and stuck to his game plan even in the shaky moments of the first round when his opponent led 2-1.
By the second, Saludar was all over the Chinese and assembled a commanding 9-3 lead that largely negated a third round rally of the silver medallist, who was thrown completely out of the ring in the heat of a skirmish.
Albania, who entered as prohibitive favourite, hit the Chinese with clear punches in the initial and second round but scores were not reflected and allowed her rival to coast after posting an early 2-4 lead.
The day’s output kept the Philippines at 17th place with as many gold medals as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Bahrain. The Philippines also finished the Asian Games with three silver and nine bronze medals.
“This is a great day for the delegation. This approximates our goal and I am very proud of our athletes,” said Chef de Mission Joey Romasanta.
The win also made Saludar a multi-millionaire with the government incentives awaiting him and the promised cash bonanza by the association’s benefactor, business tycoon Manny Pangilinan.
Boxing thus contributed a 1-1-1 medal tally to the lean contingent of 188 athletes, the bronze coming from Saludar’s brother, Victorio.
Also a big source of jubilation is the Philippines’ repeat 2.5-1.5 triumph over India in the semi-final of chess assuring the Filipinos of a silver medal as they seek revenge against China, ranked third in the world, in the final Thursday.
Scoring the resounding victory for the Filipinos are old hands Joey Antonio and Eugene Torre while Wesley So lost and John Paul Gomez had a draw.
The basketball team also won over DPR Korea, 96-69, and takes on preliminaries victim Qatar for a fifth place finish.
In sepak takraw Filipinos lost in a group A match to Korea while in wrestling Maribel Jambora was completely dominated by Cambodian Sotheara Chov in the 48 kgs class, 0-3.
Diver Nino Carog tallied a measly 355.10 to land 10th of 17th behind the 468.50 of gold medal winner Chong He of China, while Rosie Villarito hurled the javelin 48.87m far, which was second from last in the final standing after Japanese Yuki Ebihara posted a 61.56m for gold.
Athletics is 0 out of five after Marestella Torres, the best medal hope, wound up fourth and Henry Dagmil sixth in long jump, while Rene Herrera ended up eighth of 11 in men’s 3,000 steeplechase and hammer thrower Danilo Fresnido who did not figure in the medal race.
Perhaps the most frustrating outcome of the day for the Philippines was Marna Pabillore’s run in karate where she won two matches, lost one and finally moved out of the medal round after losing by the slimmest of margins, 0-1 to Fatemeh Chalaki of Iran in the repechage of the 55 kgs class.
Her teammate, Rolando Lagman did not advance, bowing to Sufian Malayeen of Jordan in, 0-3.
In rhythmic gymnastics Kazakhstan’s Anna Alyabyera ruled with 85.250 an event which saw Philippine girl from the United States, Maria Victoria Alicia Recinto scored a measly 62.250 and placed 20th out of 30 competitors.