No goodbyes yet for Paalam, 8 others as Pinoy boxers advance to gold medal matches

Filipino Olympic silver medalist and boxer Carlo Paalam, along with eight other boxers, advanced to their respective events' final matches in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

Paalam on Thursday defeated Edegar da Silva of Timor Leste via unanimous decision to punch a ticket to the men's 54kg finals.

Meanwhile, Paul Bascon took down Cambodia's Touch Davit via a second round knockout to have a chance for the gold medal at the men's 60kg event.

The two will join Rogen Ladon (Men's 51kg), Ian Clark Bautista (Men's 57kg), Norlan Petecio (Men's 67kg), John Marvin (Men's 80kg), Irish Magno (Women's 54kg), Nesthy Petecio (Women's 57kg), and Riza Pasuit (Women's 63kg) as the boxing team aims to claim nine gold medals in the biennial meet.

The Philippines' Mark Tongco lost to Vietnam's Manh Cuong Nguyen in the men's 92kg event via referee stoppage to settle for bronze.

The final matches for boxing will start on Saturday.

????????????????????????: 9 boxers will battle for gold medals for Team Philippines at #SEAGames2023! ????????

Fighting for podium finished in Cambodia are:
- Rogen Ladon (Men’s 51kg)
- Carlo Paalam (Men’s 54kg)
- Ian Clark Bautista (Men’s 57kg)
- Paul Bascon (Men’s 60kg) pic.twitter.com/QU77gisXeb

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) May 11, 2023

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA Integrated News