1 more Pinoy gets stab at muay thai gold in Macau

Another Filipino muay thai practitioner – light welterweight Ruben Zumido – reached the gold medal round of the Macau 2nd Asian Indoor Games. According to report from the Philippine delegation issued on Friday, Zumido downed Sengchanh Sivongsa of Laos via unanimous decision, thus sending him to the finals to face Metta Khetnok of Thailand in the finals on Saturday (November 3). Metta Khetnok won, also by unanimous decision, over Mustapha Yaghmour of Lebanon. Zumido's victory gave the Philippines three chances of earning a gold medal, where earlier the Filipinos' only clear prospect was a bronze from Catherine Perena who competed in the women's individual rapid chess. The hoop sepak takraw players also made official their bronze medal contribution with a 500-plus performance. The Philippines tied Indonesia for the bronze. "That's it for us, but it was a worthy bronze," Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association (PASTA) president Mario Tanchanco said. Earlier on Thursday, muay thai practitioners Roland Claro and Brent Velasco also scored impressive victories. Velasco defeated a bloodied Bounma Vongchampa of Laos via a third-round knockout in their bantamweight semifinal fight, and Claro defeated Albert Kujur of India via unanimous decision in the flyweight semifinals . Velasco will face Supachai Payunhan of Thailand, who beat Cham Kai Chung of Hong Kong in the other semifinal bout. Claro will face Chan Kai Tik of Hong Kong, winner over Artit Mennoi of Thailand in their semis pairing. The triple victories prompted muay thai head of delegation Col. Antonio Mendoza to spare protest committee chairman Robert Valdez, a Filipino, from further controversy. Mendoza said it would not look good in case the official favors the Philippines' protest against Zaldy Laruan's loss to Thai bet Kwang Khwang in the semifinals. Jury notes showed that Laruan was a 10-9 winner over the Thai fighter, but a five-man board of judges favored Khwang with a unanimous decision. Valdez, who's also the president of Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP), was caught in a tight corner with the Philippine protest, although Thai officials have agreed to accept a defeat provided Valdez signed the decision. Valdez said he could not overturn the judges' verdict just like that. So to avoid controversy, the Philippines accepted the bronze medal for Laruan. "We also have to show that we are sport and a fair people," Valdez said. "I cannot do that (sign the decision). It will not look good, especially with a Filipino involved in the case." In the friendly side of the event, chief-of-mission and Philippine Sports Commissioner Richie Garcia placed runner-up in the golf tournament. He now claims to possess the best trophy among the Philippine delegation. - GMANews.TV