CHINA -- After a day's rest in the ASBC Asian Women's Championships in this ancient Inner Mongolian city, Nesthy Alcayde Petecio continued to fly the Philippine colors high as she powered her way to a victory in the bantamweight semifinals round of the tournament Wednesday afternoon.
Ranged against a member of the powerhouse Indian team which had six boxers in the semis, the lone PLDT-ABAP survivor displayed composure and bravado in foiling her highly-regarded fore Maisnam Meena Kumari Devi.
"Malakas siya at nakita ko na lugi ako sa dikitan kaya nilaro ko sa labas (she's strong and I observed I was at a disadvantage on the inside so I fought her from a distance)," a beaming Petecio, 23, said after the fight.
"I also saw her right straights coming, so I guess she also got a bit frustrated when I was able to avoid them and then score on my counter punches", she animatedly narrated to her team mates Josie Gabuco, Irish Magno, Riza Pasuit.
Towards the end of the fourth round, the four-man cheering squad in the gallery cheered themselves hoarse as Petecio scored almost at will on right straights to the head as she suddenly switched from orthodox to southpaw stance, befuddling her opponent.
The decision was unanimous.
The dusky native of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, who won silver in both the recent Singapore SEA Games and the Women's World Championships in Jeju, Korea last November, goes up against Peamwilai Laopeam of Thailand in the Finals Thursday.
The two have a 1-1 head-to-head record, Laopeam edging her in the Palembang SEA Games in 2011 while Petecio won the decision in their match in the China Open last year.
Coaches here are Roel Velasco and Mitchel Martinez.
Officiating in the tournament are Aiba International Technical Official Karina Picson (Draw Commission) and Aiba 3-star International Referee-Judge Cildo Evasco.
A total of 96 boxers from 16 Asian nations are in the tournament.
Ed Picson