(In photo: Adjuthor Moralde II achieved a breakthrough as the lone Pinoy quarterfinalist in the the 19th Asian Games soft tennis event.)
Despite yesterday’s historic medal haul, Team Philippines still hunted for more but missed on two opportunities in the penultimate day of the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou on Saturday.
The Philippines finished its very successful jujitsu campaign with a fourth place result from Andrea Lois Lao, who dropped a 0-4 bout against Choi Hee-Joo of South Korea in the women’s 63 kg. battle for bronze.
Lao opened her campaign with an advantage win over Yara Kakish of Jordan, a 0-3 quarterfinal loss to Kazakhstan’s Marian Urdabayeva, and a repechage submission win over Muhra Mahfoodh of the United Arab Emirates.
It was still a fruitful campaign for the Philippines in its most productive sport, winning two gold plums from veterans Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez, and a bronze medal from Kaila Napolis to place second overall in the grappling contest.
In karate, heavyweight Arianne Isabel Brito likewise lost in her women’s division battle for bronze, 4-11, against Jous Aldrous of Jordan.
Brito blanked South Korean opponent Jung Hye-Young, 3-0, in the quarterfinals but lost by a solitary point to Sofya Berultseva of Kazakhstan on her way to the third place playoff.
This leaves 2018 Asiad bronze medalist Junna Tsukii of the women’s 50 kg. weight class as the lone Pinay karateka and athlete in contention in tomorrow’s closing day.
In soft tennis, Adjuthor Moralde II achieved a breakthrough as the lone Pinoy quarterfinalist in soft tennis but was blanked by Taiwan’s Chen Yu-Hsun in straight sets, 2-4, 1-4, 0-4, 4-6
The Philippines is at 17th place in the medal board with four gold, two silver, and 12 bronze medals.
* * *



