Karateka saves day for PH, wins bronze

NAGOYA, Japan – With the much-coveted gold medals proving elusive for the fourth straight day, a bronze medal for Team Philippines at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 sparkled brightly on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Thanks to brave-hearted karateka Marie June Adriano, the Philippines averted what could have been a lonely day in this bustling metropolis, which is enjoying fine weather after an early morning drizzle.

Cool and calculating, Adrianio, 22, kicked and chopped her way to a bronze medal win with a 10-3 win over Chinese-Taipei’s Ya-chi Chung in the women’s kumite -50kg division battle at Toyoyashi gym in Toyoyashi City.

However, the student-athlete from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines could have been fighting in the gold medal round if not for a heartbreaking 4-5 defeat against Hong Kong’s Tsang Yee Ting in the semis.

But against her Taiwanese opponent, Adriano, a Bangkok SEA Games bronze medalist, was a far superior fighter this time, unlike in their previous two matches, which both ended in her defeat.

“Pangatlong beses na po naming nagharap,” said Adriano, recalling their previous meetings. “Thank God, this time ako ang panalo.”

She credited her victory to her intense training, new techniques and the trust of coach.

“Mas nagtiwala po ako sa technique ko, sa kung ano yung baon ko, kung ano yung trini-train ko para sa competition na ito,” she the Games’ first-timer.

Her victory more than made up for the setbacks suffered by other Filipinos in the continental showpiece, which Japan is hosting for the third time since the 1958 Tokyo Games.

After a day of sorrow following the crushing defeat of Olympic bronze medalist Aira Villegas, Junmilardo Ogayre restored order following a 3-2 win over Mongolia’s Lundaa Gantumur.

Basketball also delivered with the men’s 3x3 team scoring a 21-15 win against Kazakhstan to advance to the quarters at the Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue.

But there was a near-miss for one of the members of men’s soft tennisteam.

Hoping that a third time would be a charm, Sherwin Nuguit put on a whale of a fight, only to suffer a stinging 3-4 defeat to Indian Jay Meena in their quarterfinal duel.

Adriano’s bronze medal was karate’s second counting the team kata’s bronze the other day and the country’s fourth since the historic win of the women’s soft tennis team last month.

Mixed martial arts star Jean Claude Saclag produced the country’s first silver medal in the men’s traditional -65kg while teammate Carlo Alvarez settled for the bronze in the traditional -77kg.

Mighty China continued to lord over the medal standings with 41 gold medals at presstime (5 p.m. local time) with the host nation a distant second with only 11 golds.

There was also an unpleasant news in fencing as Olympian Sam Catantan absorbed a 10-15 loss to Korean Park Jihee in the quarterfinals of the women’s individual foil.

Spearheaded by Paris Olympic double-gold medal winner Carlos Yulo, Team PH was nowhere in the Top 5 in the men’s team competition. The women’s team event is set later in the day.

The baseball squad, known as Hataw Pilipinas suffered its second straight defeat since its masterclass 12-0 win over Palentine.

Ranged against defending champion Japan, Hataw Pilipinas put on a brave stand but still suffered a 0-7 loss.

Early results in swimming proved to be discouraging, with Teia Salvino unable to qualify in the finals of the women’s 100m butterfly, an event where Kayla Sanchez was declared DNS – did not start.

The move was designed to allow Sanchez to conserve her energy in time for the women’s 50m sprint, where the fastest and fittest will be crowned.

In the men’s side, Gian Santos qualified in the finals of 200m freestyle, although he needs to be in a “beast mode” to make it to the podium. No. 1 Tatsutya Murasa, clocked 1:47.60 while Ramos had only

Same story for Xiandi Chua in the women’s 400 individual medley as she posted 4:51.93 against the 4:39.43 of top qualifier in China’s Zidi Yu.

Olympian rowers Joanie Delgaco and Cris Nievarez were sixth and seventh in the preliminary rounds of the women’s and men’s singles sculls, respectively.

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