CHIANG MAI—Filipino boxer Marvin Tabamo secured a silver medal, leading a strong Philippine contingent at the recent ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Championships 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Tabamo, representing the Philippine Army, fell short of gold after losing by unanimous decision to Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov in the men’s 51-kilogram final.
Prior to the final, Tabamo showcased his prowess, defeating Siiovush Mukhammadiiev of Ukraine via unanimous decision in the first round, Wang Xiangkun of China via split decision in the quarterfinals, and Hsu Po Hau of Taiwan with a referee-stoppage victory in the semifinals.
This silver medal, combined with four bronze medals won by Jay Bryan Baricuatro (men’s 48kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 63.5kg), Ian Clark Bautista (men’s 57kg), and Riza Pasuit (women’s 57kg), solidified the Philippines as the top Southeast Asian performer in the tournament.
“I may not have brought home the gold this time, but I am grateful for this opportunity to represent the Philippines,” said Tabamo in Filipino. “I also want to thank the Philippine Army for their unwavering support of soldier-athletes. We take pride in serving our country both in and out of the ring.”
Other notable performances include quarterfinal finishes by Flint Jara, Mervin Alcober, and Ofelia Magno.
This tournament marked a historic achievement for Team Philippines, with eight boxers reaching the quarterfinals – an unprecedented feat at the Asian level, according to coach Roel Velasco.
One of the most heartbreaking moments came in Fajardo’s semifinal bout against Uzbekistan’s Adkha Mukhiddinov in the men’s 63.5kg division. Despite scoring a knockdown with a solid counter right hand in the second round, Fajardo was surprisingly deducted a point.
Three judges then inexplicably scored the round in favor of his opponent, ultimately leading to a split decision loss for Fajardo.
