Islay Bomogao and two other Philippine Muay Thai bets, Tyron Jamborillo and LJ Rafael Yasay, scored impressive wins in the semifinals on Tuesday, earning spots in the finals of the discipline at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Bomogao, competing in the women’s -45kg division, was stunned when her opponent, Vietnam’s Mai Hoang Khanh, forfeited the match after two rounds at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
The two fighters had engaged in a tough battle in the first two rounds, with the judges giving Bomogao a 20-18 lead going into the final round.
However, the Vietnamese camp disagreed with the scoring, threw a water bottle into the ring, and Mai Hoang Khanh, along with her corner, walked out of the venue.
Bomogao was declared the winner and will face home favorite Arissara Noon-Eiad in the final on Wednesday, December 17.
Although surprised by the turn of events, Bomogao said she was happy with the result, noting it would give her extra time to recover before the final.
“First round binigay po sa akin, second round binigay sa akin, so pagdating ng third round, di ko pa alam ‘yung nangyayari. Nag-forfeit po ata y’ung kalaban,” said Bomogao. “Syempre, masaya po kasi hindi na ko magti-third round pero na-confuse po ako, bakit.”
In the men’s 45kg division, Jamborillo won all three rounds against Myanmar’s Myat Moe Saw, while LJ Rafael Yasay beat Thailand’s Chalongchai Minindi, two rounds to one.
Other semifinals saw Floryvic Montero settle for bronze after falling to Malaysia’s Nur Amisha Binti Azrilrizal in the women’s 51kg division, while Mathew Blane Comicho also took bronze after being knocked out in the second round by Thailand’s Abdolmalek Thingnamrob.
Earlier in the day, Bomogao and Phillip Delarmino also secured bronze medals in the female and male senior Wai Kru events, adding to the Philippine team’s medal haul.
