LIFT OFF!

Albert Ian delos Santos made a memorable Asian Games debut, capturing the bronze medal in the men’s 70-kilogram weightlifting event of the 20th edition of the quadrennial games on Saturday at Fukiage Hall in Nagoya, Japan.

The 20-year-old Zamboanga City native lifted 141kgs in the snatch and 183kgs in the clean and jerk for a 324kgs total, giving Team Philippines another podium finish in the continental showcase.

Delos Santos’ bronze improved the country’s medal haul to two golds, two silvers and five bronzes as of press time.

The country’s flag bearer during last week’s opening ceremony, Delos Santos also rewrote the junior world and Asian records in the clean and jerk, successfully lifting 181kgs in his third attempt before raising the bar to 183kgs in his final lift.

Despite being considered one of the country’s medal hopefuls, Delos Santos said he simply focused on pushing his limits and enjoying his first Asiad experience.

“I’m thankful, my God. It was unexpected, but — well, I always say this — it’s about having fun. People like Ate Hidi (Hidilyn Diaz) would tell me to just have fun and not put pressure on myself. But I’m the opposite; I put so much pressure on myself,” Delos Santos told Manila-based scribes.

“Whenever I’m alone, I keep telling myself, ‘Don’t let this go to waste; this is your first time. If you don’t win a medal now, that’s another four years of waiting.’”

Delos Santos also felt the presence of his late father, Alvin, during the warm-up after noticing that the light shining on his platform appeared brighter than usual.

“Coincidentally, the lighting — things like that — wasn’t very bright elsewhere. But my platform itself was illuminated. I told myself, ‘I’m going to get sentimental. That’s Papa,’” he said of his father and former national team lifter Alvin, who passed away early this year.

“The same thing happened to me (while I was competing) in Egypt. It was like a warehouse. Sunlight barely made it inside, though there were windows. I noticed a beam of light shining only on my platform. I said, ‘Okay, thank you, Pa. Okay, you’re here.’”

Ri Won Ju of North Korea ruled the event with a 349kgs total, including a 198kgs clean and jerk that set new world, Asian Games and Asian records.

Hometown bet Masanori Miyamoto settled for silver with 342kgs despite leading after the snatch.

Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 60kg division after stopping Jordan’s Mays Alreem Abukhadijah at the Nishio Gymnasium.

Petecio, who settled for silver in Tokyo and took the bronze in Paris, forced a referee stoppage with 1:51 left in the second round to move within one victory of securing her first Asian Games medal.

The Davao del Sur native will return to action on Monday, with her quarterfinal opponent and schedule yet to be announced.

Fellow Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam also moved into the quarterfinals after scoring a 3-0 decision over India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in the men’s 55kg Round of 16.

The Cagayan de Oro native will also fight on Monday, needing one more victory to assure himself of at least a bronze medal.