Nesthy leaves fate to God

“Kapit kay Lord” was what Nesthy Petecio said when asked if she felt pressure heading to her make-or-break bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics against Turkey’s Esra Yildiz in Busto Arsizio, Italy, last week. Only Petecio and Aira Villegas were left standing after eight teammates in the Philippine delegation were thwarted but they were determined to pull through.

Petecio, 31, scored five wins in a row to secure the Paris ticket in Italy and her first victim was Serbia’s Andjela Brankovic who was stopped in the opening round. “Nagulat ako at parang pitik lang, nawala na kaagad sa harap ko,” she said. “Power ang dadalhin ko sa Paris.”

Before the Philippine team left for training camp in Australia to prepare for the Italy qualifiers, Petecio spoke at a get-together. “Sabi ko baka last chance na ito kaya dapat buo kami sa ABAP family,” she said. “Walang sisihan at bigay namin ang lahat. Basta si Lord ang center ng aming buhay at Siya na bahala.”

ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas said Petecio was a positive influence on Villegas in qualifying for Paris. “Baka na-inspire si Aira sa sinabi ko,” said Petecio. “Tatlo na kami from boxing na nag-qualify. Mayroon pa last qualifiers sa Bangkok kaya sana marami pa makasali sa Paris.” Assured of fighting in Bangkok on May 23-June 3 are Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon and Hergie Bacyadan.

There will be 22 fighters in Petecio’s 57kg division in Paris and 17 have qualified, leaving four slots to be filled in Bangkok and one through universality. Petecio has faced five qualifiers in previous competitions so it will be like old times. The five are Yu Ting Lin of Chinese-Taipei, Karina Ibragimova of Kazakhstan, Irma Testa of Italy, Marcelat Sakobi Matshu of Congo and Jucielen Romeu of Brazil.

Petecio outpointed Yu, 3-2, in the Tokyo Olympics then lost to her, 4-1, at the Asian Games last year. The two-time SEA Games gold medalist from Davao del Sur beat Matshu, 5-0 and Testa, 4-1 in Tokyo. She scored a split decision over Romeu at the 2019 World Championships. At the Asian Championships in Amman, Jordan, in 2022, Petecio bowed to Ibragimova on a unanimous verdict. Petecio said in Paris, she expects stiff opposition from Yu, Testa and Ibragimova. The other qualifiers are as tough so the road to the top won’t be a smooth ride. Petecio said she’s learned her lesson from Tokyo where she settled for silver after losing in the final and in Paris, won’t lack in confidence. She’s leaving her fate in the Lord’s hands while promising to give it her all to bring glory to the country.