By NICK GIONGCO
JAKARTA – The Filipino survivors of the initial volley of bullets in the 2018 Asian Games boxing wars have been ordered to load up and fire back.
Light-flyweight Carlo Paalam, fly Rogen Ladon and middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial go for finals berth Friday, all of them remnants of the once proud eight-member team that was sent to fulfill a difficult mission.
“Let us not be content,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas told the three after Marcial cruised to the final four with a masterful beating of Korean Kim Jeanjae late Wednesday at the Jakarta International Expo in Keramoyan district.
“We still have a job to do,” added Vargas.
The Philippines is aiming to better the one silver medal and two bronze medal finish by the boxers four years ago in Incheon.
First to step into the ring is Ladon, the 2016 Rio Olympics veteran who will collide with Tongdee Yuttapong of Thailand at 2:15 pm (3:15 pm in Manila) followed by Paalam against Amit Panghal of India at 6:15 (7:15 pm in Manila).
The third to vie for a slot in the gold medal match is the rugged and heavy-handed Marcial, who locks horns with Madrrimou Israil of Uzbekistan.
Paalam will have his hands full against Panghal, the Commonwealth Games runnerup and veteran of European slugfests the last two years.
Ladon likewise has a tough assignment with Yuttapong fresh from ruling the Thailand Open only last July.
Marcial has the most on his plate since he will be clashing with 2014 Incheon silver medalist in Madrimou, who likewise placed fifth in the 2017 world championships in Hamburg, Germany.
When competitions in boxing kicked off last week, five Filipino punchers didn’t get past the preliminary stage. First to go was welter Joel Bacho, who was followed by lightweight James Palicte, bantam Mario Fernandez and female hitters Nesthy Petecio and Irish Magno.
