Reigning gold medalist Jean Claude Saclag barged into the semifinal round while three other Filipino kickboxers fell to their respective opponents in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games at the Multi-Purpose Hall Gymnasium in Bac Ninh, Vietnam.
Saclag bested Latxasak Souliyavon of Laos with a 3-0 sweep in the men's low kick -63.5 division and assured himself of at least a bronze medal.
Kurt Lubrica, however, yielded to Thai foe Chaiway Sungnoi at the -57kg, 2-1.
In men's full contact action, Jomar Estaban absorbed a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Racchan Toch of Cambodia in the -57kg category.
Carlos Alvarez also suffered a 3-0 sweep against Vietnamese Nguyen The Huong, who was the 2019 SEA Games bronze medalist.
Saclag and Nguyen already met in the -63.6kg low kick duel in the 2019 edition here in the Philippines but it was the Team Lakay member who emerged victorious and eventually bagged the gold medal.