Jiu-jitsu gives PH 2nd Asiad Games gold medal in row

Annie Ramirez won the Philippines’ third gold medal – and the second straight from jiu-jitsu – on Friday in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Ramirez defeated Kazakhstan’s Galina Duvanova in the women’s 57kg event. On the way to the final, she defeated Vietnam’s Thi Thuong Ie in the round of 16, Singapore’s Fiona Toh in the quarterfinals, and Shamsa Alameri of the United Arab Emirates in the semifinals.

As of last night, the Philippines haD a total of 16 medals, with two silvers from wushu’s Arnel Mandal and boxing’s Eumir Marcial, and 11 bronze medals.

The Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team was facing Jordan for the gold medal at 8 p.m.

Ramirez’s victory came after Meggie Ochoa’s golden medal finish in jiu-jitsu’s 48kg division for women on Thursday (see full story in Sports, page C2 – Editors).

Pole vaulter EJ Obiena copped the country’s first gold, setting an Asian Games record last week.

The Pinoy jiu-jitsu team also bagged a bronze medal, thanks to Kaila Napolis of the women’s 52kg event.

Meanwhile, the PH sepak takraw team of Jason Huerte, Rheyjay Ortouste, Ron Gabayerno, Mark Joseph Gonzales, and Jom Rafael also bagged a bronze medal in the men’s regu.

Elsewhere in the Games, China’s women’s basketball team staved off a spirited fightback from Japan to retain their title on Thursday, as a silver medalist became the latest athlete to fail a doping test.

The Chinese men crashed out in the semi-finals with a last-gasp defeat to the Philippines 24 hours earlier, breaking the hearts of the basketball-obsessed home nation.

But the women made up for it, taking an early lead and then just about keeping the Olympic runners-up at bay for a thrilling 74-72 win at a pulsating Hangzhou Olympic Centre Gymnasium.

Wang Siyu sank the game-winning basket with seconds remaining,

sparking wild celebrations among the flag-waving crowd.

China coach Zheng Wei warned her team they will have to be better at next summer’s Paris Olympics.

“We still have a lot of room for improvement and many problems to solve,” she said.

China fielded 6ft 8in (2.03m) Han Xu and 6ft 7in Li Yueru, giving them a huge height advantage over their opponents.

Han, who has been compared to