Alcantara's controversial loss spurred Morrison to SEA Games gold

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Already inspired to win gold in the Southeast Asian Games to honor his late grandmother, Samuel Morrison gained even more motivation after one of his teammates in the Philippine taekwondo team suffered a controversial loss.

Alcantara, a SEA Games rookie, lost in a highly disputed men's -68kg finals to Malaysian jin Rozaimi bin Rozali, who was declared the winner by "punitive declaration" after the scores were tied at 17-all at the end of three rounds.

Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison battles Ardian Prayogo Dinggo of Indonesia in the finals of the men's -74kg of the 29th Southeast Asian Games taekwondo competition. Pool photo

The head judge ruled that the Pinoy jin had already accumulated 10 "gamjeoms," or penalties, and was thus disqualified – much to the consternation of the Philippine team, who insisted that Alcantara only had nine penalties as indicated by the electronic scoreboard.

Moreover, Philippine taekwondo coach Dindo Simpao said there was no reason for the score to be tied in the first place, as Alcantara should have won "by a mile."

After seeing his teammate on the losing end of a dubious decision, Morrison vented his ire on Indonesian Dinggo Ard Prayago in the gold medal match of the men's -74kg division.

Full Article: http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/27/17/alcantaras-controversial-loss-spurred-morrison-to-sea-games-gold