Golden streak Petecio wins 4th title in 2018
NESTHY Alcayde Petecio, whose amateur boxing career began in Davao City, hoisted the Philippine flag anew after bagging a gold medal, her fourth straight title this year, at the close of the 2nd Kapolri Cup Boxing Tournament Open in Manado, Indonesia Monday.
Petecio, 26, of Tuban, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, demolished Vietnamese Vuong Thi Vy via unanimous decision, 5-0, in their women's featherweight 57 kilogram championship bout.
Three judges Rewthong Montire of Thailand, Sasaki Yasutaka of Japan and Safrask Mohamed Thowfeek Mohamed of Sri Lanka all scored the match, 30-27, favoring Petecio while two others Almohammedsalem Mihammed of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nayak Rajesh Kumar also gave her the victory with identical 29-28.
Petecio, in a Facebook interview with Sun.Star Davao yesterday, said she had sparred with Vuong Thi Vy in the past.
"Ginahimo nila coach na magsulod ko sa iyaha permi kay taas sya sa akoa. Gamitan pud nako sya power kay mas kusog ko niya og kahit pano hadlok na sya sa akoa (Coach wanted me to attack from the inside because she's taller than me. I also used power and somehow she feared me)," Petecio, who also won golds in the 10th International Boxing Tournament in Russia last May, said, adding that she was not complacent considering that Vietnam's camp also studied her style.
She also pocketed titles in the 1st Indian Open International Boxing Tournament in February and in the XXXV International Felis Stamm Tournament for Elite Men and Women in Warsaw, Poland in March.
The former World Aiba Women's silver medalist first defeated a Thai foe and two Indonesian rivals before she faced the Vietnamese.
She said, "Sa pang upat nako nga gold sobra kaayo ka blessed og happy kaayo ko sa akoa achievements sa pagkakaron pero kabalo ko nga kulang pana kay naa pay mas gipangandaman jud na namo ang Asian Games og world women's championship this year po (I am so happy and blessed winning my fourth gold this year but I am still not done as we are still preparing for the Asian Games and the World Women's Championships )."
She also said that she will save the US$500 she won for her feat, provide needs for her siblings and mother's maintenance medicines.
Filipinos Josie Gabuco and Ramel Macado, Jr. also annexed golds in women's light flyweight and men's light flyweight, respectively.
Gabuco overwhelmed Endang, 5-0, while Koronadal's Macado upset 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Cornelis Wangu Langu, 4-1.
The Philippines emerged overall champion with three golds, one silver and two bronzes.
Coach Nolito "Boy" Velasco, in a separate interview, said, "Masaya tayo at maganda ang naging resulta at nasa tama ang preparation namin to Asian Games. Nakukuha nila ang mga inaapply ko na mga tactics," Velasco said.