FOUR Filipinos assured themselves of at least a bronze medal after manhandling their foes in the sanda events of the wushu competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games Sunday afternoon at World Trade Center.
Jessie Aligaga started the day with a resounding domination of Teh Chee Chong of Malaysia to advance in the 48 kg division. Francisco Solis, who won a silver back in 2015, also hurdled Myanmar's Thein Htike in the 56 kg division.
Gideon Fred Padua needed three hard-fought rounds to escape Putra Bayu Raka of Indonesia to make it to the 60kg semifinals.
In contrast, Clemente Tabugara Jr. hardly broke a sweat in the 65kg division quarters, finishing off Ching Jian Hwa of Malaysia in two rounds.
"Masaya naman kasi naka-adjust na kami at kumpyansa na papasok kami sa medal rounds," said Tabugara, who won a bronze medal in Singapore back in 2015.
"Sa susunod, mas lalaban pa kami ng maayos para masungkit ang panalo."
All four wushu warriors brace for their respective semifinal matches on Monday.
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