THE Philippines added another bronze in Day 2 courtesy of MMA, which could also produce the country its first gold medal in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Carlos Alvarez lost to Yerkingali Burkutalin of Kazakhstan in the semifinals of the men’s traditional -77kg division but still enough to take home a bronze medal in this Asiad on Tuesday.
Alvarez’s semifinal appearance and defeat gave the Philippines its second bronze medal following the women’s soft tennis team on Monday.
The Philippines is now in 22nd place in the medal tally alongside Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
All eyes on Tuesday will be on Alvarez’s teammate Jean Claude Saclag, who will fight for the gold medal after winning his semifinal bout against Daisuke Murayama of Japan in the men’s traditional -65kg category.
READ: Jean Claude Saclag going for Asiad gold after beating Japan foe
Saclag used to train together with Maruyama at Team Lakay in Baguio City and he used that familiarity to win the bout via unanimous decision.
Standing in the way of Saclag’s gold medal quest is Otabek Rajabov of Tajikistan on Tuesday, 3:47 p.m. local time (2:47 p.m. Manila time).
Two-time Olympic champion Carlos Yulo will also be seeking gold medals in the next few days after qualifying in the apparatus finals of floor exercise, parallel bars, and vault on Monday.
Gilas Pilipinas Men 3x3 swept their assignments on Monday, upsetting Mongolia, 19-12, and Sri Lanka, 21-12.
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