Team Philippines will lean on the mighty shoulders of boxer Charly Suarez, as the counter-puncher is set to fight in the gold medal match on the last day of the 2014 Asian Games at the Seonhak Gym in Incheon.
Suarez entered the finals of the lightweight division after bullying Jordanian Obada Mohammad Mustafa Al-Kasbeh for a convincing unanimous decision.
The Filipino is set to face Mongolian Ortgondalai Dorjnyambuu, an aggressive volume puncher who has a penchant of fighting from close range.
Unfortunately, Suarez’s compatriots Mark Anthony Barriga, Mario Fernandez, and Wilfredo Lopez failed to enter the finals of their respective weight division, bowing down in the semifinals via controversial decisions.
The light flyweight Barriga, despite rearranging South Korean Shin Jong-hun’s face as the hometown boy got a black right eye and a swollen left eye, lost via unanimous decision.
Bantamweight Fernandez likewise suffered a unanimous decision loss against Zhang Jiawei of China while middleweight Lopez lost a split decision against Odai Riyad Adel Al-Hindawi of Jordan.
In taekwondo, Ateneo Blue Eagle Francis Aaron Agojo opened his campaign by mauling Naing Dwe Shein of Burma, 14-1.
Agojo precisely landed five jab kicks against Naing in the first round as he lunged toward victory in the men’s under-58 kilograms category round-of-16.
The Naypyidaw SEA Games silver medalist will next face Yuma Yamada of Japan in the quarterfinals.
The last remaining medal hopeful in taekwondo is Kirstie Elaine Alora, who will compete in the quarterfinals of the under-73 kilogram weight class against Rima Ananbeh of Jordan.
Out of medal competition is Guangzhou Asian Games bronze medalist Japoy Lizardo, who lost a tight round-of-16 tiff against Ghazanfar Ali of Pakistan, 12-14, in the under-54 kilograms weight class.
Karatekas Ramon Franco and Princess Diane Sicangco likewise bowed down in their respective fights.
The Philippines still is at 22nd place overall with one gold, two silver, and nine bronze medals.
