Wrestler Alvin Lobrequito is savoring the sweetness of winning his first Southeast Asian Games gold medal when he ruled the men’s freestyle 57-kilogram event last week in Phnom Penh.
Lobrequito, a first-class airman in the Philippine Air Force, said he was happy to win the gold medal for the first time since making his SEA Games debut in Myanmar in 2013.
He grabbed the bronze medal in 2013 before clinching back-to-back silver medals in the Manila and Hanoi editions of the Games in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
Now, he is glad to finally call himself a SEA Games champion.
“I am so happy because I always dream of winning the gold medal in the SEA Games,” said Lobrequito, who got into the sport upon the support of national coach Violito Agustin.
“It wasn’t easy. Both of my opponents really improved after last year.”
‘I am so happy because I always dream of winning the gold medal in the SEA Games.’
In the Cambodian Games, Lobrequito was on a mission.
He opened his campaign with a commanding 3-1 win over Phung Khac Huy of Vietnam before beating Nattawut Kaewkhuanchum of Thailand, 3-1, in the single round robin format to emerge victorious.
Phung eventually settled for silver while Nattawut went home with the bronze.
With the win, Lobreguito joins Jason Balabal (men’s 87-kg Greco Roman), Ronil Tubog (men’s 61-kg freestyle and Ma. Cristina Vergara (women’s 65-kg freestyle) as gold medalists in the vaunted wrestling team.
But Lobreguito isn’t done yet as he is expected to compete in the 19th Asian Games after Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino mentioned that the gold and silver medalists in the SEA Games will be deployed in the prestigious continental tourney set in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
Lobrequito said he will definitely show up prepared.
“I want to continue my journey by playing in more competitions and improve on my mistakes,” Lobreguito said.
