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Source: gmanews.tv

-- The RP boxing team spent most of Tuesday by watching tapes and dissecting the opponents of Annie Albania and Mitchel Martinez.

“We have studied their opponents and we have laid down plans on how to defeat them," said coach Glicerio Catolico on the eve of the gold medal bout pitting Albania against Thailand's Sopida Satumrum in the bantamweight class and Martinez against China's Cheng Dong in the light welterweight division.

Albania and Martinez’ gold-medal bouts are two of the eight finals matches that will be featured on Wednesday to end the women’s boxing event at the Bah Nihn gymnasium. Both lady boxers are looking for a victory for Team Philippines in the third edition of the Asian Indoor Games.

Muay gave the Philippines two gold medals in the 2005 Bangkok and 2007 Macau AIG.

“We are on track of surpassing our two previous showing. We have two boxers in the finals while other bets in muay, wushu, bowling, chess and swimming are still in the thick of the fight for medals. I believe we are capable of achieving our best finish here," said RP Chief of Mission Julian Camacho.

The Philippines already has two bronze medals courtesy of pinweight Josie Gabuco and bowler Biboy Rivera in the men's singles.

Sanshou artist Jennifer Lagilag, a silver medalist in the 2005 World Championship, also assured the country of another bronze in the 48kg division. She drew a bye in the first round.

Action in the sanshou event at the Trinh Hoai Duc Gymnasium ends Wednesday but Lagilag will compete only starting Wednesday against the winner of Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Bich and India's Purhrambam Sakuntala Devi.

Thi Bich is the favorite to win the gold being the 2007 world champion after beating Lagilag in the finals.

Rhea May Rifani opens her campaign in the 52kg division Wednesday against local bet Nguyen Thuy Ngan. Gong Jinlin of China completes the three competitors in the said division and they will go into a single round robin to determine their final placing.

Miguel Molina, Thailand SEA Games best male athlete, arrived Monday night in time for Wednesday’s pool competition at the My Dinh National Aquatics Center.

Molina is entered in seven events and will swim in Wednesday’s morning heats in the 50m free, 100m breast and 200 individual medley. His other events are in the 50 breast (Thursday), 200m free (Friday), and 100m IM and 100m Free (Saturday).

Heats will be held in the morning while finals will be played starting at 6 pm.

But focus will be given more to Albania and Martinez, who are the most senior from the five-member RP women’s boxing squad sent by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

They, however, are ranged against tough opponents as Satumrum is the 2007 SEA Games gold medalist in the light flyweight division while Dong won the silver (60kg class) in the 2008 World Women's Championship.

Martinez is looking for some payback after losing to Dong in the quarterfinals.

“Mitchel must neutralize Dong's speed. But we have confidence in her skills and she has a big fighting heart," said Catolico, who is being assisted by Roel Velasco in coaching the team.

Albania and Satumrum will be meeting for the first time but the coaching staff knows how the Thai fights after watching her compete against Alice Kate Aparri in the 2007 SEAG finals.

“Hindi natin papapormahin iyan sa laban," said Catolico.

PSC chairman Harry Angping, in his message from Manila, praised the athletes’ efforts adding that they should give their best for flag and country.

“They made it to the Finals because of their hard work, determination and sacrifices. I asked them to give it their best shot and the entire Filipino people will be praying for their success," said Angping.