Team Philippines’ Carlo Paalam, right, fights Australia’s Charlie Senior in their men’s 57kg quarterfinal boxing match at the Paris Olympics 2024, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)

MANILA, Philippines — Team Philippines’ Carlo Paalam felt he did enough to win his men’s 57kg quarterfinal bout that would’ve assured him of at least a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Saturday.

Instead, Paalam was sent packing following a heartbreaking split decision loss to Australia’s Charlie Senior at North Paris Arena in France.

The 26-year-old Paalam, one of the country’s top bets to bring home a medal, couldn’t hide his frustration over his tough 3-2 loss to Senior, believing he landed the cleaner punches in their furious exchanges in the last two rounds.

“Sorry talaga. Ginawa ko ang best ko lahat kasi lamang na lamang talaga ako. Pasensya na sa lahat,” said Paalam in an interview with Paris Olympics broadcaster One Sports. “Lamang talaga ako. Ang mindset ko lang laro ko lang ang laro ko. Walang tama na solid sa akin puro hampas na nga. Sa akin clear na clear.”

“Klaro naman yung score talaga na sa akin yung bawi ko sa kanya, clear na clear,” he added.

Paalam, who won silver in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, said he gave everything he could despite battling injuries.

“Sobrang dismayado. Siyempre tinyaga ko eh. Kahit marami akong injury talaga sa paa ko, sa legs ko, at sa balikat ko, masakit pa siya, pero pinilit ko talaga kasi ayaw kong ma-disappoint ang Pilipinas,” Paalam said.

Although dismayed, Paalam is taking the setback in stride as he joins fellow eliminated boxers Eumir Marcial and Hergie Bacyadan.

“Ganoon talaga pupunan natin yung kulang sa akin,” he said. “Siguro ngayon pahinga muna ako so pagsikapan ko pa kung lalaro pa ba o ano.”

Two more Filipino boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, who is already assured of a bronze after her quarterfinal victory on early Sunday (Manila time), are still in gold medal contention.