MARVIN MAKES PRESENCE FELT IN 21 SECONDS
Pinoy pugs John Marvin and Eumir Felix Marcial carry the cudgels winning the gold medals in their respective weight classes in SEA Games boxing
If you haven’t heard about John Marvin before, you probably know of him now after he scored a quick and empathic victory over hometown bet Adli Hafidz in the men’s lightweight finals match of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The boxing team actually salvaged two gold medals yesterday with the other one coming from Eumir Felix Marcial, who defeated a Thai foe, in the men’s middleweight class.
Mario Fernandez finished with a silver, while Charly Suarez finished with a bronze.
Marvin, a Filipino-British, needed only 21 seconds to finish off his Malaysian opponent. Right off the bat, Marvin knew he needed a strong finish as he was up against a hometown bet.
“I did not want to leave it to the host country’s hands to decide my fate,” said the Lance Corporal of the British Army in an interview with reporters after the match, shared on social media. He added, “It is an honor to wear the Philippine flag on my chest.”
Marvin, whose mother is from Pampanga, said he wasn’t too surprised about his win after sizing up his opponent a few seconds into their final match. “If you come out with your hands down, you will get hurt,” he added.
Meanwhile, Marcial couldn’t be happier winning the gold as he went into the final match with an injury.
“Kahit may injury ako, ang sakit nang kamay ko, iniisip ko, ‘last nato, wala nang bukas. Bahala na kung bukas palitan yung kamay ko basta ngayon dapat manalo ako,’” Marcial said. Meanwhile, the PHL’s track and field athletes also snatched
Trenten Anthony Beram and Aries Toledo also lord it over on the tracks after winning the 200-meter and decathlon events
two gold medals. Aries Toledo and Fil-Am Trenten Anthony Beram pocketed the decathlon and men’s 200-meter run, respectively.
Beram, whose family, according to PSC Commissioner Mon Fernandez, is originally from Mandaue City, pocketed the men’s 200-meter run gold.
He finished in 20.84 seconds followed by Thailand’s Jirapong Meenapra in 21.22 and Malaysia’s G. Aravinn Thevarr, who clocked 21.26.
Toledo, who was clearly in pain with bodytape all over him, said that he pushed himself as he wanted to win it for the country.
“Nananalangin po ako sa itaas na huwag po akong bumigay kasi sa javelin (throw, the ninth event) pa lang sumasakakit na yong buong katawan ko,” said Toledo, who was virtually wrapped all over his body with tape. “Sabi ko po sa sarili ko: para ito sa bayan, para ito sa bayan kaya di ako dapat magpatalo.”
Meanwhile, Curte Robert Guarin, Emmanuel Portacio, Leoncio Carreon Jr. took another gold medal in the lawn bowl competition.
Meanwhile, Cebuana golfer Lois Kaye Go finished with a bronze medal in the individual stroke play in golf.
Amparo Teresa Acuna, on the other hand, took home bronze the bronze medal in the women’s 50m Rifle Prone in Shooting.