Pumpkin2022
Member
In between introspection forced on it by victory and defeat, the Philippine boxing team continues to march forward, looking to punch its way to the podium in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hergie Bacyadan and Carlo Paalam were the latest to pick up their gloves for Team Philippines, battling separate foes in their debuts on Wednesday, even as Aira Villegas prepares for Step 2 against Yasmine Moutakki of Morocco. “We need to study her and train hard,” Villegas said of her bout, which kicks off a few minutes past midnight (Manila time) on Friday. So far, the Philippine boxing team has had mixed results in the French capital on Wednesday: At around midnight, Nesthy Petecio coasted her way to the round-of-16 of the women’s 57-kilogram class while a befuddled Eumir Marcial, the hard-hitting professional touted as a medal hopeful in Paris, looked befuddled in the early rounds against the taller Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan three hours later and crashed in his opening bout. Switching stances Bacyadan, meanwhile, fell prey to Li Qian’s laser-like jabs and was likewise bounced out of medal contention. Petecio hardly found herself in any form of trouble against Jaismine Lamboria a little after midnight Wednesday. Switching stances, the former featherweight world champion skipped her way into striking distance against the taller Indian, often landing solid straights set up by well-timed jabs.
