The Philippines’ Hergie Bacyadan overcame frayed nerves with prayer to gain a “fighting mindset” on Monday evening, May 27, pummeling Spain’s Dunia Mas Martinez in their women’s 75kg clash 5-0 in the World Boxing Qualification Tournament at the Hua Mak Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
“Nung nasa baba ako ng ring, nape-pressure ako, nate-tense, kabado; pero pagtuntong ko ng ring at nag-pray ako, I shifted to fighting mindset,” said Bacyadan.
“Sinabi ko sa isip ko, trinabaho na ng lahat ng coaches ang trabaho nila, so trabaho ko naman ngayon na i-perform yung mga naituro nila sakin.”
Bacyadan advanced to the round of 16 against Veronika Nakota of Hungary on Saturday afternoon, June 1, following Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam in hurdling past the opening of preliminaries.
Paalam was to face Turkmenistan’s Shukur Ovezov in the 57kg round of 32 late Tuesday, May 28.
“Hergie moved better and set up her attacks better compared to her last tournament,” said Marcus Manalo, secretary-general of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines. “Hopefully that carries over against better competition in the next rounds.”
Bacyadan seized control of the fight outright in the first round, and sustained the momentum throughout.
“First minute pa lang nakuha na agad ni Hergie ang laro, so wala nang ibang instruction maliban sa mag-ingat na lang at kailangan lang ma-maintain niya,” said ABAP coach Ronald Chavez.
“Natuwa kaming mga coaches sa ginalaw niya hanggang last round.”
