MANDAUE CITY, Cebu - Day four turned out to be the best day so far for Davao City in the ongoing Philippine National Games (PNG) 2018 as the swimmers and arnisadors each added three gold medals as of yesterday, May 24, presstime for a total of 10 golds.
Samuel John Alcos ended his PNG stint with perfect five golds after winning his favorite 100-meter breastroke event and teaming up with Juan Antonio Mendoza, Kyle Pajarito and Fritz Tamara to capture the boys 16-above 4X50 medley relay and 400m freestyle relay golds at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The 27-year-old swimming coach of Ateneo de Davao University checked in at one minute 07.01 seconds to rule the boys 16-above 100m breastroke, prevailing over Paul Andrew Rioflorido of Dagupan City (1:12.83) and Junvic Tiro of Cebu City (1:13.38) who pocketed the silver and bronze, respectively.
Alcos recently annexed the 50 breastroke and 200m breastroke golds.
"This meet is special because it is my first time to represent Davao City. Representing the city outweighs the golds I got," Alcos said.
Born and raised in San Pablo City, Laguna, Alcos went to Davao City for graduate studies and work.
He hopes that with his sterling feats here, he would earn a slot to the national swimming team.
At the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex, Glennon Jhon Malisa cornered his second gold in arnis competition yesterday. He defeated Jerald Kasim of Koronadal City, 6-4, in their junior boys extralightweight labanan padded stick championship match after claiming his first gold in junior boys extralightweight anyo (sword and dagger) event Tuesday, May 22.
Malisa, 17, an incoming Grade 11 student of Davao City National High School (DCNHS), said, "Mas nauna ko sa iya og set, late na sya nakabawi nahutdan na sya og oras (I got the lead first and he tried to recover but it was too late for him)."
The eldest among four children of Alvin, a construction worker, and Glenn, a housewife, from Boulevard was teary-eyed during the interview. "Tanang kahago nako nagbunga (All my hardwork paid off)," he said, thanking his coaches, his family and teammates for their support.
He fell short during the Palarong Pambansa 2018 held in Ilocos Sur and went home with a silver. Thus, he pushed himself to train harder to make a statement here.
Malisa, who used to be a taekwondo player. aims to win a third gold in the live stick event, which he said, would require stamina and endurance on his part than the padded stick.
Amena Madid and June Flloyd Bazala also got one gold each for Davao City.
Palarong Pambansa 2018 champion Madid routed her rival from Baguio City, 9-1, in junior girls 45-48 kilograms labanan padded stick finals.
"Kulba kaayo pero gipaspasan nalang nako, nakuha rapud nako sa akong wave. Maski mu-jump sya di sya kaigo nako (I was nervous but I just hit faster. When she jumped she could not hit me)," Madid told Sun.Star Davao Facebook live.
PNG first-timer June Flloyd Zabala, for his part, escaped past Lee Matthew Artajo of Cebu Province, 3-2, in junior boys labanan lightweight gold match. It was his first-ever medal in a national competition after four years in playing the sport. He was empty-handed in the Palarong Pambansa 2018.
"Thankful kaayo ko sa mga tanang suporta (I'm thankful for all the support)," he said, pertaining to his coaches, teammates and family.
Zabala, an incoming Grade 11 student at Davao City National High School, said it felt surreal to be winning in such a huge sporting meet.
His coach Jed Palazuelo said, "I told him to be patient because he was really faster than his opponent."
Davao City swimmers Kierl Suazo and Pajarito, for their part, salvaged a silver and a bronze, respectively.
Suazo placed second in boys 16-above 50m freestyle while Pajarito finished third in boys 16-above 200m butterfly. (MLSA)