Controversy flared at the Southeast Asian Games on Thursday as the Philippines forfeited six boxing finals to protest alleged biased judging, adding to Thailand's massive gold medal count.

The Philippines reacted to perceived favoritism toward Thailand in Wednesday’s women’s boxing finals by refusing to contest six of the seven men’s gold medal bouts it was scheduled to fight Thursday.

The decision on whether to fight was left up to each individual boxer, with two electing to forfeit at the opening bell, and four more during their bouts.

Only one Filipino fighter, Larry Semilano, chose to contest his entire bout but lost the super lightweight final to reigning Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong.

The forfeits contributed to a Thai sweep of all ten boxing golds.

Somjit Jongjohor in the flyweight and Pichai Sayota in the lightweight divisions both collected gold and both are bound for the Olympics. Worapoj Petchkoom and Suriya Prasathinphimai won the bantamweight and middleweight divisions respectively, while Angkhan Chomphuphuang took the light heavyweight and Sailom Adi the featherweights.

Amnat Ruenroeng and Non Boonjumnong – already qualified for Beijing – and Kaeo Pongprayoon won their finals comfortably in the light flyweight, welterweight and pinweight divisions respectively.

Thailand did worse in women’s basketball, where Malaysia beat the host 61-60 in the final round-robin match and de facto final to take gold.

The Philippines beat Thailand 94-53 in men’s basketball to finish with a 4-0 record and claim the gold medal.

Thailand did pick up gold in women’s soccer, beating Vietnam 2-0 in the final.

In other team sports, Malaysia easily won both field hockey finals, downing Singapore 7-0 in the men’s event and Thailand 6-0 in the women’s.

The Philippines won the double in softball, beating Indonesia 11-2 in the men’s final and Singapore 7-0 in the women’s.

There were close finishes in the two cycling road races. Marites Baby Bitbit was first in a group of six across the line to take the women’s race for the Philippines, while Indonesia’s Ryan Ariehaan Hillmont won the men’s race by little more than a second, ahead of a group of four riders.

The martial arts finals continued with Malaysia and Vietnam getting three golds each in karate.

Thailand was best in taekwondo with three golds.

Judo saw Thailand win two golds through Wuttikrai Srisoprap in the men’s 90-kilogram class and Surattana Thongsri in the women’s under-70, while John Baylon snatched the men’s 81 division for the Philippines and Aye Aye Aung the women’s 63 event for Myanmar.

Malaysia had the best of the second day of diving finals, as Yeo Kee Nee won gold in the men’s 3-meter springboard and Leong Mun Yee in the women’s 1-meter springboard.

Source: AP via GMANews.tv