Thursday, April 19, 2007 Davao Region bets win 14 gold medals
ILOILO CITY -- THE power strokes of frontliner Carlo Rodriguez and anchor Haroon Cali boosted Davao Region's four-gold medal harvest in the men's 800 meter freestyle 4x200 relay to end the team's stint on a high note in the National Prisaa Games 2007 swimming competition at the Iloilo Sports Complex here Wednesday.
The Davao swimmers added a total of five golds, two silvers and seven bronzes on the third and final day of the swimfest for an overall total of 14 golds, four silvers and 21 bronzes.
Davao was awarded four golds in men's 200m 4x50 relay medley late Tuesday after swimming officials corrected an error of time recording.
The Davao quartet, also bannered by Junie Barani and Juna Frances Bilao, clocked a total of nine minutes and 15.34 seconds while Region 6 settled for the gold with a time of 9:25.71. Region 4-A registered 9:47.25 for the bronze.
Holy Cross of Davao College's Rodriguez plunged ahead and sped past his rivals at over a 50m distance.
Davao's second swimmer Barani and third swimmer Bilao, who earlier saw action in long distance events, slowed down the pace.
But Cali, fresh from his silver finish in men's 200 individual medley (IM), revived Davao's lead that was threatened by RP youth member Adelbert Gallos of Region 6.
Gallos tried to rally and come close Cali but the latter pumped up speed, fueled by the noisy cheers of the wild Davao fans standing on bleachers, then never looked back to seal the victory.
Rodriguez copped the gold in men's 50m butterfly after registering 27.51 seconds followed by Gallos and Hywell Ramacho of Region 7, respectively.
The final day's other silver also came from Cali who fell short of the gold in men's 400m freestyle.
Davao's Fatima Alamara took the bronze in women's 400m freestyle while Isidro Peñales Jr. had the men's 50m breaststroke bronze.
Shahani Navarro won a bronze in women's 200m IM then anchored the Davao team for a four-bronze finish in women's 800m freestyle 4x200 relay. With her were Alamara, Debbie Kasim and Belinda Pacatang.
A few swimmers have gone to Boracay to laze around the white beaches while waiting for the Games to wrap up on Saturday. (MLSA)
