Four Filipino jins made it to the finals of the 22nd Southeast Asian Games taekwondo competitions yesterday at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium here.
Lightweight Donald David Geisler, the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games silver medalist, scored a 12-9 victory over defending champion Thit Lwin of Myanmar to reach the final against Rizal Samsir of Indonesia, who beat Cambodia Bout Vichet, 10-6.
Geisler, who also won the silver in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Games and the bronze in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, defeated Thailand Patiwat Thongsalap, 10-8, in the quarterfinals.
Welterweight Alexander Briones, gold medal winner in the 2002 Korea Open and bronze medallist the following year, arranged a final showdown with three-time SEAG champion Kriangkrai Noikoed after beating Indon Basuki Nugroho in the semis, 5-2, and Myanmar Mg Mg Oo in the quarters, 8-4.
Middleweight Dax Alberto Morfe had a bye in the quarters and beat Indon Dereck Afsa, 3-1, to advance to the finals against Vietnamese Phan Tan Dat, who demolished Myanmar Zaw Myo Win, 6-0.
Only middleweight Margarita Maria Estela Bonifacio advanced to the finals of the women�s division, winning in sudden-death over Thailand Wasittee Prasopsuk.