SAKHIR, Bahrain — Leo Mhar Lobrido showed grit in the boxing ring to claim a spot in the semifinals, Princess Jay Ann Diaz and Jay-r Colonia lifted their way to bronze, and Alas Pilipinas marched on to the Final Four to cap another strong day for the Philippines in the Asian Youth Games.

Lobrido overcame tense moments in the closing seconds of the third round to beat Binul Dulnada Dewasiri Narayana of Sri Lanka in the boys’ light flyweight boxing quarterfinals at Exhibition World Bahrain on Sunday, assuring himself of at least a bronze medal.

Diaz earned the bronze in the clean and jerk of the girls’ 44-kg class. iece of Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, the 17-year-old Princess Jay Ann made it to the podium with a 78kg lift. India’s Bhoi Priteesmita bagged gold with a world youth record 92kg lift, while China’s Wu Jihong lifted 88kg for silver.

Jay-r Colonia bagged bronze in the boys’ 56kg clean and jerk with a 137kg lift. Jiang Jinfu of China topped the event with a new Asian Youth record of 141kg, while Al Ojaian M Mohammed Nawaf of Saudi Arabia claimed silver with 138kg.

Boxer Shairylle Pores bowed out at the quarterfinal stage, however, as Chen Fang-yu of Chinese Taipei scored a 5-0 victory in the girls’ 46kg class.

The Philiippine girls’ volleyball team faced some anxious moments but ultimately secured a Final Four berth in girls’ volleyball, eliminating Chinese Taipei, 25-16, 20-25, 25-16, 25-18, in front of a huge Sunday crowd at Isa Sports City.

After a shaky second set that last 30 minutes, the team led by Sam Cantada and Rhose Almendralejo regained their bearings and sealed the win in an hour and 47 minutes.

“Masaya po kasi nagawa po namin yung panalo po namin,” said Rihanna Cris Navarro. “Pinagtrabahuhan po talaga namin kasi knockout na po yung laro po namin and kailangan po namin umangat po sa top four para makakuha po kami ng gold. “

Asked about their chances of making it to the gold medal match, Navarro expressed confidence as they prepare to face unbeaten Iran.

“Mare-rate ko po sa 10 out of 10, 10 po talaga, kasi kayang kaya po talaga namin to tsaka ilalaban po talaga namin to para po sa bayan.”

Tough breaks

In table tennis at the EWB, John Marin and Jannaj Alarcon swept Mongolia’s Turmunkh Dugersuren and Enkhjin Tuvshinbayar, 11-7, 12-10, 11-3, in the mixed doubles round of 64.

Marin fought hard in the boys’ singles before bowing to Man William of Hong Kong, 10-12, 9-11, 11-13. Emmanuel Paculba started strong but couldn’t sustain momentum against Iran’s Mobin Amiri, 11-5, 8-11, 12-14, 9-11. Jacob Quindo lost to China’s Tang Yiren in group play, 6-11, 4-11, 5-11.

Hong Kong’s Mak Ming overpowered Joanna Esguerra, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4, while Su Tsz Tung demolished Zuri Chua, 11-1, 11-3, 11-2. Singapore’s Loy Ming defeated Jannaj Alarcon, 11-3, 11-5, 11-2.

In taekwondo, Matt Rejhan Lavestre had a fine start but was stopped in the quarterfinals by Yevgeniy Vassenkin, 2-0, in the boys’ -55kg class. Lavestre earlier defeated Malaysia’s Muhammad Aidil Hakim Bin Mohd Azman, 2-0, and Bahrain’s Haji Yousuf, 2-0.

Chuck Aeron Alariao also exited in the quarterfinals of the -63kg class, 2-1, after beating UAE’s Marwan Mohamed, 2-1, in the Round of 16.

Pinar Lotfizadeh Gabalou of Iran beat the Philippines’ Ej Gaa, 2-0, in the girls’ -63kg quarterfinals.

At the Nasser bin Hamad Loop in Zallaq, Maria Louisse Crisselle Alejado clocked 18 minutes and 53.40 seconds in the girls’ Individual Time Trial. That was a minute and 47 seconds off the gold pace, with Kazakhstan’s Anel Tashbay winning in 17:06.05. China’s Xing Aofei took silver, 19.03 seconds behind, while Hong Kong’s Law Ching Kiu finished third, 34.36 seconds off the lead.