Saturday, April 28, 2007 Davao has new track hero By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
DAVAO Regional Athletic Association's Anthony Nevza is turning out to be Davraa's best performer thus far in the 2007 Palarong Pambansa in Koronadal City.
Nevza, ignoring the scorching heat of the sun, has captured two gold medals already in the annual sports competition for young athletes.
After bagging the gold in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Nevza added the 5,000m run gold become the most bemedalled trackster along with Region 4 pride Ma. dela Paz Benebane.
Benebane had bagged the golds in secondary girls 400m dash and 400m hurdles.
In other fronts, Davraa also salvaged the silver and earned six points in lawn tennis elementary girls team competition through the efforts of veteran age-grouper Camille Zapatos, Anna Carissa Colmenares, Debbie Ace Songcuya, and Angelie Omandac.
The Central Visayas (Region 7) pocketed the gold and recorded 14 points with Irish Jaca, Hannah Grace Espinosa, Kimberly Kaye Uytico and Crissianne Issa Kintanan.
Caraga's Mirriam Tumapang, Irene Lourie Mabazza, Krystle Joy Sagon and Annalyn Cortez shared the bronze with Region 2's Rubeanne Policarpio, Floree Faye Pinzon, Joyce Tolentino and Princess April Feliciano.
Caraga and Region 2 settled for two points each.
Region 6 emerged champion in lawn tennis elementary boys team event while Central Visayas placed second, Region 9 and the National Capital Region tied for third.
In the girls' category, Region 3 took the gold while Central Visayas got the silver. Calabarzon and Region 12 shared the bronze.
Davraa's Laureanne Suaner, Sandra Lorriainne Lagman, Kristina Mae Colmenares and Eloisa Collo placed 12th.
Davao's performance could have been better had top female netter Steffi Marie Dizon was included in the team.
Graf didn't make it to the team after missing the qualifier when she competed in the BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games in Makassar, Indonesia.
In badminton, Davao coach Jethra Villanueva Friday said Davraa marched into the semi-finals of the elementary mixed doubles and secondary mixed doubles events as of press time.
The Davao Region is also eyeing finals slots in elementary and secondary girls doubles and elementary boys doubles.
