The redemption tours of Ian Clark Bautista and Irish Magno in the 31st Southeast Asian Games will reach its final day.
The two Filipino pugilists advanced to the finale of their respective divisions, Friday at the Bac Ninh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam,
Bautista, who finished with bronze in the 2019 Games, dispatched Cambodia’s Sao Rangsey in just two rounds to advance to the men’s bantamweight final.
The referee had no other recourse in the second round but to stop the bout as the native of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental peppered his cornered opponent with combinations.
Meanwhile, Magno made her return trip to the women’s flyweight finale after taking a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision win against Indonesia’s Novita Sinadia.
The two join Eumir Marcial and Rogen Ladon for Sunday’s super card.
However, Nesthy Petecio and Marjon Pianar could not join the party.
Petecio was dethroned in the women’s featherweight class by Vietnam’s Tran Thi Linh via a close decision, 3-2.
The Olympian bounced back from a slow first round, being more aggressive in the second round. However, it still did not earn the praise of the judges ringside.
Trailing, Petecio went for the big shots in the third round but the hometown bet was able to withstand the barrage.
In the men’s welterweight semis, Sarohatua Lumbantobing of Indonesia dominated Pianar, 4-1.
