Although Nesthy Petecio left early for eye surgery, ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo suggests that a part of her absence might also be a form of protest over officiating frustrations at the SEA Games 2025.
Is there more to Nesthy Petecio’s absence from the medal ceremony at the SEA Games 2025?
While the two-time Olympic medalist had to return home early for eye surgery, Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) secretary-general Marcus Manalo suggested that part of her absence may also have been a form of protest following frustrations with officiating.
"Siguro partly. If she’s vying for the gold medal, she still would be here. Obviously, she was disappointed by the result," Manalo told Cignal’s Belle Gregorio.
Petecio settled for bronze after a controversial 3-2 split-decision loss to Indonesia’s Hasanah Huswatan in the semifinals of the women’s -63kg category.
Huswatan later earned silver after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Thailand’s Thananya Somnuek, who claimed gold.
Still, Manalo confirmed that the SEA Games organizers were informed in advance of Petecio’s absence from the medal ceremony.
"Nesthy actually went home already. She has a recurring eye injury and parang may laceration. Whenever she’s joining a tournament, bumabalik yung injury, so since she had an early exit here, we decided for her to come home early para magawa na yung surgery," he explained.
Manalo added: "She got a medical certificate from our NOC doctors here, and I also saw the request for surgery from her doctor in the Philippines. We also informed the organizers that Nesthy won’t be able to receive her bronze medal."
Gut Punch
Petecio’s “act of protest” reflected more than a personal setback—it symbolized the frustration of the entire Philippine boxing team and the NOC over perceived controversial decisions that marred the tournament.
Another Olympian in Hergie Bacadayan also fell in the semifinals, losing a narrow split-decision to Thailand’s Baison Manikon, who went on to claim gold in the women’s -70kg division.
Aira Villegas, another Olympic medalist, had to settle for silver after falling to Chuthamat Raksat of Thailand in her gold medal bout.
[ALSO READ: Aira Villegas eyes step-by-step rise to SEA Games gold after latest silver-medal finish]
Even ABAP president Ricky Vargas had to acknowledge Thailand’s dominant showing in boxing, earlier describing it as an “unprecedented performance” in the SEA Games where nearly every gold medal match favored the home athletes.
[ALSO READ: SEA Games: ABAP chief Ricky Vargas asks fairness as 3-of-4 PH boxers face Thais in finals]
Out of 16 gold medals at stake, Thai boxers captured 14 overall.
For the 13-member Philippine boxing delegation, the tournament ended with a mixed haul: one gold, three silvers, and six bronze medals.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial was the lone Filipino pugilist to reach the top of the podium—and it came in the very last bout of the SEA Games.
[ALSO READ: Eumir Marcial refuses to let “unsafe” boxing wraps stand in the way to win fifth SEA Games gold]
(With reports from Belle Gregorio/Cignal)
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues