BACOLOD CITY — Athletes from Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, were among those who contributed to the record-breaking medal haul of Team Philippines in the ongoing 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
On Monday, boxers Rogen Ladon and James Palicte of Bago City pocketed two of the seven gold medals won by the Filipino boxers in matches held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum.
Ladon, a silver medalist in the 2018 Asian Games, sealed his victory in the flyweight division via unanimous decision against Thailand’s Yaodam Ammarit.
Palicte, on the other hand, ruled the finals of welterweight division after defeating Nguyen Van Hai of Vietnam.
The people of Bago, also the home of Olympic silver medalist Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco, hailed the achievements of the two homegrown boxers.
“Their exemplary performance which resulted to their victory is an honor to the country in general and to their hometown, Bago City in particular,” said Mayor Nicholas Yulo in a statement posted on the city’s official Facebook page on Monday night.
The mayor added the gold medals won by Ladon and Palicte will encourage many aspiring boxers, especially those in Bago, and will also inspire the city government in increasing its commitment and continued support to grassroots boxing program.
“A hero’s welcome and cash incentives await them in Bago,” Yulo said.
Another Negrense boxer, Ian Clark Bautista of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, took the bronze in the bantamweight division.
Davao City-based Charly Suarez, who was born in the southern Negros city of Kabankalan, outclassed Thailand’s Khunatip Pidnuch in the men’s lightweight final to win his third SEA Games gold medal.
Riza Pasuit of Bacolod City won the silver in the women’s lightweight division.
In other events, Abegail Sinogbuhan of Sagay City was also a gold medalist in women’s sepak takraw hoop and a bronze winner in regu.
Dex Chavez of Cadiz City bagged the bronze medal in men’s taekwondo 58-kg division.
Earlier, dancesports medalists from Bacolod, Debbie Mahinay, and couple Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo, were lauded by city officials here for their achievements in the regional games.
Mahinay won the silver medal in Breaking B-Girls category while Marquez and Sabalo took the gold medals in both the Open Latin and the single dance pasa doble as well as the silver in single dance jive. (PNA)
