SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Annie Ramirez capped her banner year by winning gold in the 55-kilogram division of the 30th Southeast Asian Games’ jiujitsu tournament, Tuesday at the Laus Group Convention Centre here.
However, Ramirez needed to survive a tough finals outing against Malaysia’s Cassandra Poyong to eke out a 3-0 win via points.
“Malakas kasi siya. Physically strong siya, so siyempre maingat ako. Especially nung una part, napunta ako sa hindi magandang position sa closed guard, marami kasi pwede mangyari doon eh. Nung naka-tanggal ako dun, medyo kampante naman ako,” said the 29-year-old UST product, who competed in the 2011 SEAG as a judoka.
In the semis, Ramirez by quickly tapping Cornella Tobing of Indonesia.
Early this year, Ramirez placed first in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiujitsu Championship and the Manila Open.
Not so fortunate was Absolute MMA’s Apryl Eppinger.
Eppinger could not make it to the 62kg finals after tapping to eventual-champion Constance Lien of Singapore via a bow and arrow choke.
Eppinger still took home bronze.
