Another Filipino reaches Rio Olympics as Charly Suarez scores second-round TKO over Chinese foe

CHARLY Suarez became the second Filipino to secure a berth in the Rio De Janeiro Olympics after reaching the finals of the Asia/Oceania Qualifying Tournament in Qian’an, China on Thursday.

Suarez defeated home bet Shan Jun via technical knockout in the semifinals of the lightweight division, assuring the Filipino fighter of at least a silver in the competition and a berth in the Olympic Games.

Suarez will face Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu of Mongolia for the gold after he beat Daisuke Narimatsu of Japan, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

The 27-year-old Suarez, a silver medalist in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, joined light flyweight Rogen Ladon, who earlier copped a ticket to Rio with a victory over an Indian foe.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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Colonia set to join fellow lifter Diaz in Rio

photo (c) Spin.ph

Count Filipino lifter Nestor Colonia in the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.

By just showing up in the coming Asian championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, national weightlifting coach Dondon Aldanete said the 22-year-old pride of Zamboanga City would already be eligible for the Olympics.

“He’s already ranked fourth in the world. Part of the requirement for him to officially qualify is to join the team event,” said Aldanete, pointing out that Colonia would only need the points in the team competition of the continental championship to join fellow lifter
Hidilyn Diaz in Rio.

Colonia bagged a bronze medal in the clean and jerk (158kg) in the recent world championship held in Houston, Texas but wound up fourth in the snatch (124) and total (282) in the 56kg men’s category.

Diaz, who scooped three bronze medals in the women’s 53kg of the world championships, has already cemented her third straight Olympics.

The Asian Weightlifting Championship is set April 21-30 where 10 Filipino lifters (six men, four women) will participate in the team event headlined by Diaz and Colonia.

Team delegation head Romy Magat said he would secure the certification from the International Weightlifting Federation that would officially declare Diaz as a qualifier to the Olympics.

Joining Diaz and Colonia in the Asian championships are Ellen Rose Perez, Kristel Mae Macrohon, Maria Dessa Delos Santos, Roel Garcia, Elbert Atilano Jr., Karl Louise Macrohon and Joshua Dinglasan.

Aldanete said Colonia would need to lift a total of 280-300 kg to seize a medal in Rio while Diaz should carry 230kg to earn a podium finish.

Diaz has a personal best of 214 in the total—96 in the snatch and 118 in the clean and jerk.

“The chances are brighter for Nestor to medal based on his previous performances,” said Magat.

Once Colonia qualifies, it will be the first time for the Philippines to have a pair of lifters in the Games since Gregorio Colonia, SamuelAligada and Ramon Solis made it in 1988 Seoul.

Source: June Navarro of Inquirer Sports

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Rogen Ladon qualifies for Rio Olympics after advancing to gold medal match in China

ROGEN Ladon of the Philippines defeated Devendro Singh Laishram of India via unanimous decision in the semifinals of the Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Qian’an, China on Thursday to claim a berth in the Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Ladon got the nod of all three judges, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, to advance to the finals of the men’s light flyweight class.

More important, Ladon became the first Filipino boxer to clinch a spot in Rio De Janeiro by virtue of an assured top two finish in the Asia/Oceania qualification tournament.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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Four Filipino boxers a win away from Olympic berths after reaching semis in China qualifier

FOUR Filipino boxers made it to the semifinals of the 2016 Asian/Oceania Qualification Event in Qian'an, China to move a win away from securing a berth in the Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

Bantamweight Mario Fernandez led the big day for the Filipino boxers as the Southeast Asian Games champion beat Mohammad Alwadi of Jordan via unanimous decision during the evening session on Tuesday.

Also entering ithe semifinals were Rogen Ladon, Charly Suarez, and Eumir Felix Marcial.

Ladon defeated Al-Kaabi Hasan Ali Shakir of Iraq via unanimous decision in their light flyweight bout while Suarez pulled off a similar unanimous decision win over Rangi Deeraj of India in the lightweight division.

Marcial, also a SEA Games champion, won over Kazemzadehposhtiri Sajjad of Iran via unanimous decision in the welterweight class.

Fernandez, Ladon, Suarez, and Marcial will now have two chances of punching a ticket to Rio, which they can do either by winning their semifinal bout on Thursday or by taking the bronze medal as the top three boxers in each division will gain an Olympic berth.

Female boxer Nesthy Petecio, however, was not as fortunate as she lost in the quarterfinal round in the flyweight division to Mary Kom of India.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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Philippine Azkals pull off great fightback, stun North Korea in five-goal thriller

THE Philippine men’s football team refused to disappoint the home crowd as it stunned North Korea, 3-2, to finish its World Cup/Asian Cup second-round qualifying campaign on a high note on Tuesday night.

The Azkals squandered an early lead, but stayed strong defensively before finally getting rewarded with two goals late in the second half to secure the impressive victory against a country ranked 94th in the world.

Iaian Ramsay came off the bench in the second half and scored the game-winner a minute before stoppage time off a cross from Javier Patino that left the Rizal Memorial Stadium crowd of over 7,000 in a frenzy.

The Philippines is now assured of a berth in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifying after finishing the second round in third spot with 10 points in eight matches.

Source: Karlo Sacamos of Spin.ph

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AIBA Asian & Oceanian Olympic Qualification Event

*Top 3 in Men's Category qualify to the Olympics

**Top 2 in Women's Category qualify to the Olympics

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