Wins by vet and newbie

By Jun Lomibao
Editor

DOHA—Day One was a walk in the park for flyweight Violeto Payla, the most senior on the team, and featherweight Anthony Marcial, the rookie, in the boxing competitions of the 15th Asian Games Saturday.
           
The duo were too classy for their opponents—Payla scoring a 33-13 victory over Omran Akbari of Iran and Marcial booking an even lopsided 31-7 win over Inhta Sathit Keo of Laos—that RP head coach Pat Gaspi bragged they were merely getting started.
           
“They’re just warming up. They will get better as the tournament wears on,” said Gaspi in Filipino.
           
The left-handed Payla jumped to a 10-6 lead in the first round, further pummeled his foe in the next for a 20-9 score before finishing the Iranian off with another flurry in the third.
           
And he was surprised his Iranian foe did not use his advantage in reach. “I thought I’d have a hard time because of his longer reach. Even the score was surprising, that it was that easy,” he said in Pilipino.
           
Payla, 27, is in his second Asian Games after Busan in 2002. He is looking forward to facing Thai Somjit Jongjohor, who drew a first-round bye. His next opponent is Vietnam’s Tran Quoc, who foiled the hosts’ Othman Arbabi, 28-8, also Saturday.
           
Marcial was tentative at the start and even trailed the Laotian. “Nanggigil, [too eager]” said RP team manager Ruben Roque.
           
But Marcial soon found his range and with his right hitting its mark, he jumped to a 9-0 lead and then 17-5. He was never headed after that.
           
He, too, could hardly believe he marched into the second round scheduled for Sunday that easily. “I didn’t expect it to be that easy. I didn’t even unleash the punches I prepared,” said the 20-year-old from Zamboanga.
           
Marcial takes a shot at a quarterfinal-round seat against Iraq’s Suraka Mahdi, who got the better end of a close verdict over Pakistan’s Muhammad Sajid.
           
Thailand, meanwhile, was four of four Sunday behind featherweight Sailom Adi, lightweight Pichai Sayota, light-welterweight Manus Boonjumnong and welterweight Angkhan Chomphuphuang. Kazakhstan and India each had three victories.
           
Five Filipinos drew a bye, including No. 1 gold medal hopeful Joan Tipon, who sees action in a bantamweight fight Monday. Welterweight Frances Joven, however, has his fists full against Chomphuphuang in his debut.
           
Tipon climbs the ring against Taipei’s Liu Shi-jung, which his coaches expect to be an easy assignment. And if he reaches the semifinals, he has to contend with vaunted Thai Worapoj Pethkoom.
           
Payla’s possible biggest block in his class is Korean Lee Ok Sung who is at the bottom half of the draw.