SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Meggie Ochoa rose above the competition by copping one of the Philippines' three golds in the opening day of the jiu-jitsu tournament of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the LausGroup Events Centre here Monday.
The 29-year-old, an Asian Games bronze medalist and a winner in the World and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships delivered in her first stint at the biennial regional meet.
Ochoa, the Philippines' bet at the under-45kg division, outclassed Vietnam's Le Thu Trang Dao in the gold medal match, 12-0. Prior to that, she made quick work of Thailand's Kanjutha Phattaraboonsorn in the semifinals, 11-2.
Prior to the match, Carlo Peña made history by striking the first-ever gold of the event by dominating Indonesian foe Richard Rengga in the finals, 17-2 in the under-56kg competition.
He qualified to the final round by blanking Singapore's Jack Xuan An Tran, 14-0.
Dean Roxas, meanwhile, submitted Singapore's Benjamin Chua via toe hold to conquer the minus-85kg division at the 3:49 mark to win the final gold of the day.
He had also done almost the same thing against Sooknatee Suntram of Thailand, with his opponent giving up with 1:08 left in their semifinals showdown.
Meanwhile, Kaila Napolis bowed to Cambodia's Jessa Khan to receive the silver medal of the under-49kg gold medal match.
Mark Lim also lost in the finals of the under-49kg finale to Banpot Lertthaisong of Thailand to settle for second.
Gian Dee was also not to be denied of a podium finish as he took home the bronze in the under-62kg category by beating Ikhsan Ananda of Indonesia.
The final day of the two-day meet will be tomorrow at the same venue.