Paalam fighting until final bell

With the country’s golden hope in Alex Eala making an exit, Carlo Paalam is pressured to deliver and win a gold medal as the 20th Asian Games enters its home stretch on Friday at the Nishio Gymnasium.

The 28-year-old Bukidnon native will climb the ring at 12 p.m. to clash with Japanese pug Yamaguchi Rui for the gold medal in the men’s 55-kilogram event of the boxing competition.

Paalam’s win will be very important to Filipinos.

Team Philippines has won three gold medals so far — two from gymnast Carlos Yulo and another one from pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena — so a victory over the Japanese bet will give the country its fourth gold medal that will match its achievement in Hangzhou and the forecast of top sports officials.

More than that, it will serve as the country’s first gold medal in boxing since Rey Saludar ruled the 52-kg event in the Guangzhou edition of the Asian Games in 2010.

A silver medalist in the Tokyo Summer Games, Eala earned his spot in the final after scoring a split-decision victory over world champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan of Kazakhstan in the semifinals on Wednesday, assuring himself of at least a silver medal — the first and only for the vaunted boxing squad after Nesthy Petecio, Norlan Petecio, Aira Villegas and Riza Pasuit were eliminated before reaching the semifinals.

“I’m thankful for the trust of my coaches, Coach Ronald (Chavez) and Coach Pam (Elmer Pamisa), because I have confidence in myself,” Paalam said.

“I know I’m doing my best. I don’t feel any pain as long as I’m in the ring.”

Paalam’s road to the final was far from easy.

After receiving a bye in the Round of 32, he defeated India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, 3-0, in the Last 16.

Paalam survived consecutive split decisions against Zhang Jiamao of China in the quarterfinals and Sabyrkhan in the semis.

Standing between Paalam and the gold medal is reigning Asian champion Yamaguchi, who is also Japan’s last boxing hope but will enjoy the luxury of fighting in front of his home crowd.

The 22-year-old Japanese advanced to the final after beating Kharkhuu Bilguunsaikhan of Mongolia in the semifinal.

Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Marcus Manalo believes Paalam has what it takes to deliver the country’s first Asiad boxing gold in 16 years.

“I think it will be an additional motivation for Carlo that we have a chance to finally end the Philippines’ 16-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games,” Manalo said.

“I’m sure he really wants to win this. He’s more than capable of achieving that. Carlo is really looking forward to this.”