Margarito Angana applies ice on his right eye which was hit by a headbutt during his gold medal bout Ho Quang Hai of Vietnam. Despite the injury Angana prevailed. (Photo by ALBERT GARCIA)

VIENTIANE, Laos — Margarito Angana, the youngest of three brothers competing in wrestling in the 25th Southeast Asian Games, won his first-ever gold medal Tuesday, a decade after he picked up the sport as a farm boy in Zamboanga City.

Margarito, 26, trounced Ho Quang Hai of Vietnam in the final of the 55-kg. division of Greco-Roman despite being a victim of a headbutt that closed his right eye.

A day after his victory, Margarito’s eye was still swollen, but was happy to achieve the goal he set before leaving Manila.

It was his best performance in four Games appearances, having won a bronze in the 2003 and 2007 edition and silver in 2005.

It marked also the second SEAG gold for the three brothers who were born in Dumaguete City but grew up in Zamboanga City.

Jimmy Angana, the eldest at 29, was first introduced to the sport by his classmates in high school who were members of the wrestling team. His brothers followed suit.

The Anganas went to the Tetuan Zamboanga High School where they learned the sport’s fundamentals.

Jimmy said as a skinny 14-year old, he could lift one sack of rice in one hand to load it into the truck. He could also carry two sacks piled up on his head.

He recalled the time when his coach wanted to bring him to compete in the national junior championship.

“Ayaw pirmahan ng uncle ko yung permission dahil baka daw kung ano mangyari sa akin. Pero napilit ko. Nung nanalo ako, tuwang-tuwa siya suot ang medal ko,” Jimmy said.

Jimmy captured the gold in Manila in 2005 to go with two silvers in 2003 and 2007.

Jerry, 27, who took up the sport much later, will be making his debut in the Games after failing to qualify in 2005 and 2007.

During the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar in 2006, Jerry broke a collar bone after a bad fall and spent Christmas in Doha with his brothers.

After three months of rehabilitation, Jerry was back on the mat, doing what he does best.

He’s set to compete in the 55-kg. division of freestyle.

The brothers live in the athletes’ dormitory at Rizal Memorial sports complex, a far more comfortable accommodation from where they are used to in Zamboanga.

“At least aircon at may kutson,” Jimmy said. Jimmy and Margarito are already married, their wives staying in separate homes in Taytay. All three have saved enough to buy lots in Taytay.

They said they owe their careers to Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat and coach Mario Unrobia.