With only three boxers still in contention for the Philippines, the hope is that all three of them would take home medals to somehow makeup for the early eliminations of their five teammates.
2016 Rio Olympian Rogen Ladon was the first punch his ticket to the semis and guarantee himself of at least a bronze medal with a split decision victory in the men's flyweight category. Light flyweight Carlo Paalam and middleweight Eumir Marcial remain in medal contention for the Philippines.
Ladon faced Azat Mahmetov of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals at Hall C of Jakarta International Expo. Although he was hampered with a cut on his right eyebrow that he suffered via head butt during his last fight, Ladon did not let it bother him; not even when it was reopened with another head butt against Mahmetov.
Throughout the match, the Filipino flyweight landed good combinations as he timed Mahmetov's attacks perfectly. He would wait for the Kazakh boxer to attack, then meet him at the middle, throwing scoring combinations.
In the battle of two southpaws, it was Ladon's left straight that landed with more regularity.
He marched his way to a split decision victory with three judges scoring the fight for the Philippines 29-28, while the other two favored Mahmetov via the same score.
"I'm happy to enter the semifinals. We had a game plan for this fight and I just listened to what my corner was telling me," said Ladon after the match.
"The plan was to always throw his jab to set up his straight, which he was able to execute all throughout the bout," said Marcus Jarwin Manalo, the sports psychology consultant of the boxing team. "Then after attacking, the instruction was to move either to the side or back to avoid the counterpunch of Kazakh."
Although Ladon got the win, his coaches were surprised it came via split decision.
"We were surprised that the judges scored the first round for the Kazakh," Manalo added.
Light flyweight Paalam and middleweight Marcial on Wednesday will attempt to add to the Philippines' medal tally.
Ladon will face Thailand's Yuttapong Tongdee in the semifinals on August 31 (3:15 p.m. in Manila).