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Friday, September 22, 2006
Golden sweep not new to Garovillo
Sweeping gold medals is not new to 11-year-old gymnast Mary Carmeli Garovillo.
The Most Outstanding Athlete for gymnastics (MOA) swept five gold medals in the individual rhythmic event in the Milo Little Olympics last Week. Impressive as the feat maybe, that wasn’t her first.
She also bagged six gold medals in the last Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association.
“The feeling was so nice to win gold medals,” Garovillo said during yes-terday’s Scoop forum at the Baseline restaurant.
Garovillo also won three bronze medals in the Palarong Pambansa, and another bronze in the Philippine Olympic Festival, where she got invited to join the national training pool in Manila.
Declined
“I declined the offer to let my daughter join in the training pool since we cannot afford to transfer in Manila,” said her father, Enrique.
Garovillo, who cross-trained in ballet to master her leg and body–rotation, is also setting her eye on the next Palarong Pambansa.
“Palarong Pambansa will be her first priority next year and she hopes to bring home her first gold medal for Cebu,” said her supportive father, Enrique
Aside from Garovillo, three other MOAs—Benedict Luis Arriola, Jacob Lagman, and John Francis Balbona shared their plans.
Sixteen-year-old Arriola of Paref-Springdale, the awardee in secondary football, dreams of joining the varsity at the Ateneo de Manila University.
Torn
“I am going to pursue football and will try out for Ateneo, though I am quite unsure yet of my plans,” said Arriola, who also won the same award in elementary, four years ago.
His father, Braulio, revealed that his son is torn between football and basketball.
“After football practice, he then goes to the basketball court and play,” his father said.
Eleven-year-old Lagman of St. Benedict Learning Center, who won the award for elementary lawn tennis, will still vie for honors abroad, where he completed a grandslam in a tournament in Malaysia last year.
“I’ve been practicing a lot for future tournaments outside and inside Cebu,” said Lagman, who is ranked first in the 12-Under division in the country.
Championships
Media-shy eight-year-old John Francis Balbona, awardee for chess in the elementary division, will try to earn a slot in next year’s National Age Group Chess Chess Championships, the qualifying tournament for the World Age Group Chess Championships.
“I’ve been exposing myself in many tournaments here in Cebu in preparation for the age group this summer,” said Balbona.
Other awardees who were present at the forum were Yuri Cauba, Carlo Ceniza, Michael John Go, Geofrey Apas, Rose Ann Salazar, Kevin Sia, Lemeul Ortega, Kenny Genobia, Pedro Agustin Diao, Orgie Albaño, George Ian Buha-yan, Edgar Allan Jarina, Era Vivien Perral, Cris Daryl Yap, and Kenneth Gesim. (JAF)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 22, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here.
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