City bets sizzle in Batang Pinoy

BAGUIO City sizzled in three events and set in motion its title retention bid at the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Batang Pinoy Games Northern Luzon qualifier in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

The Summer Capital bets continue to battle it out with athletes from hometown Pangasinan with 22 gold medals from athletics, four from arnis and seven coming from swimming.

Erwin Generalao seized the first athletics gold medal of this talent hunt for athletes 15 years old and below after dominating the boys’ 14-15 5,000-meter run in 17 minutes, 18.9 seconds at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center track.

A senior at the Baguio City National High School, the 15-year-old bested Ace Joshua Hipona of Candon, Ilocos Sur (18:48.3), and Reymark Quezada of Baguio (18:54.3) in the kick-off event of the games hosted by Pangasinan Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr.

“Sa ngayon di natin masabi kung tayo pa ang nasa number 1 sa standings kasi mahigpit pa rin ang laban lalo na sa athletics,” said City sports coordinator Gaudencio Gonzalez.

But even with Pagansinan continuing to lord the sporting conclave with their entries in athletics and swimming, Gonzalez said the race to the over-all championship will still be open as Baguio remains in contention for the gold medals in other sports.

“Halos lahat kasi ng event sa athletics eh may entry and Pangasinan at may mga events na sila-sila lang din ang naglalaban sa gold but we still pin our hopes kasi sa tingin ko kaya nating i-dominate yung ibang sports gaya ng combatives,” said Gonzalez.

He added that the four gold medals won in arnis were taken during the anyo competition with the labanan, or the combative side of arnis, still underway with all entries from Baguio assured of a semis appearance.

Taekwondo, Gonzalez said, will be also one of the major sports events where Baguio hopes to cash in with some of the participants entering the semis phase of the competition.

Batang Pinoy Games kicked off in Marikina City last month with the best and brightest athletes in each of the five legs competing in the national championship in Iloilo City on December 5-8.

Events on tap are arnis, athletics, badminton, boxing, chess, karatedo, lawn tennis, swimming, taekwondo and table tennis while cycling and baseball are hold their respective national finals in the on-going four day meet.