BY NOLI CORTEZ

NAKHON RATCHASIMA. — Sick and tired of being repeatedly "robbed," especially on the boxing ring, Team Philippines showed its own fury by staging a virtual walkout Thursday in the 24th Southeast Asian Games here.

All but one of seven Filipino boxers in the men’s finals gave up the fight without really trying, "resigning" their finals matches against Thai rivals as their way of protesting what is perceived as a spate of hometown decisions.

Flyweight Godfrey Castro and bantamweight Junel Cantancio raised their hands when they were ordered by the referee to mix it up with their Thai opponents, relinquishing the potential gold in the belief their efforts will only go to naught in the face of the host team’s drive to win the coveted mints at all cost.

Featherweight Orlando Tacuyan Jr. did fight Sailom Adi but quit after the second round with the Thai ahead 16-2.

The Thais nearly won all gold medals in boxing, foiled in just one weight category by a Pinay boxer, in a show that is mighty impressive and, at the same time, eyebrow-raising at the very least.

Team RP couldn’t care less, even if the potential golds could have gone a long way in their stretch drive for the meet that has "Spirit, Friendship and Celebrations" as its theme.

The RP boxers did not boycott the finals, as was initially mulled, but staged their own unique kind of protest to show their indignation.

Middleweight Junie Tizon and light-heavy Maximino Tabangcora fought for a round each before "conceding" at the start of the second round, while lightweight Joegin Ladon quit with 1:27 to go in the first round. Super light Larry Semillano saw action the full route but still scored only four points to his Thai foes’ 10.

Those among the remaining RP contingent here are trying to do their own part in fouling up the hosts’ grand design.

The men’s basketball team, for example, did its part, venting its ire on the hosts with an emphatic 94-53 win over the Thais.

Ageless middleweight judoka John "SEA Games Legend" Baylon beat a Thai foe en route to copping his ninth gold while cyclist Baby Marites Bitbit charged past a Thai rider to rule the women’s road race.

Taekwondo jin Tshomlee Go (under-67kg) and the men’s and women’s softball teams also completed golden sweeps, among their victims Thais.

Boxing’s move, however, could dearly cost the country in its bid to finish at least third, with 72 gold medals left to be disputed over the last two days of competitions.

The six gold medals for the day as of press time were enough, however, to hike Team RP’s total wins to 39 and a tie with Indonesia at fourth. The Filipinos, however, have more silvers, 65-52. Singapore slipped to fifth from third, just a gold medal behind Team RP and the Indons.

Aside from the boxers’, the country’s silver edges were boosted by the second place finishes of karatedos Ireneo Toribio, Jose Mari Pabillore, Ma. Esperanza Manansala and Cherli Tugday, plus the women’s golf team led by Anya Tanpingco.

Of the six Filipinas who made it to the finals, only flyweight Annie Albania emerged with a gold–and only because she knocked out her Thai foe in the first round.

The rest all lost on points, including featherweight Ronijen Sofla who absorbed a 0-19 "beating" that left Team RP officials incredulous and seething.