The Philippines went 1-1 in the Olympic boxing semi-finals on Thrusday, with flyweight Carlo Paalam advancing to the gold medal bout while Eumir Marcial had to settle for a bronze.
And Manny Pacquiao, a former eight-weight world boxing champion and the nation's greatest ever fighter, was quick to express his pride in the efforts of both competitors shortly after the end of Thursday's Olympic boxing session in Tokyo.
Paalam looked great in his last-four victory over home hope Ryomei Tanaka, while Marcial was edged out via split decision by Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak.
"Fight for Gold, Carlo Paalam! We are rooting for you," Pacquiao posted to Twitter. "Thank you, Eumir Marcial for giving your best! Your Olympic effort was solid gold. The two of you make us very proud!"
Pacquiao returns to the ring on Aug. 21 against reigning welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., in what many expect to be his final contest win, lose or draw.