Sailing cops three medals for Philippines as badminton, boxers inch closer to podium

Filipino sailors copped three medals for Team Philippines in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Monday.

Andrei Tugade got a silver medal in the men's windfoil IQ: foil youth, while bronze medals were bagged by John Harold Madrigal (men's windfoil IQ foil) and Dhenver John Castillo (men's windsurfing RS:One).

Meanwhile, the women's national badminton team is assured of at least a bronze medal after advancing to the semifinals in their win over Malaysia, 3-0. The team is composed of Mikaela de Guzman, Alyssa Leonardo, Bianca Carlos, Airah Albo, and Christel Fuentespina. They will face the winner of the match between Cambodia and Indonesia.

In boxing, Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam defeated Malaysian foe Daeloniel Mc Delon Bong in the men's 54 kg quarterfinals to advance and face Timor Leste's Edegar da Silva in the semis.

Paul Bascon will also advance to the next round after getting a 4-1 win against Vietnam's Thanh Dat Vu in the men's 60 kg event.

Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio will also move to the semis after knocking out Laos’ Minavanh Oupaxa in less than two minutes in the quarters of the women's 57 kg class.

As of writing, the Philippines has 19 gold medals, with the most recent coming from pole vault star EJ Obiena. The country's haul also has at least 28 silver and 31 bronze medals, according to the SEA Games website.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News