CEBU Province momentarily lost the lead in the medal tally after the host team Dumaguete City dominated archery on Day 4 of the 2017 Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying.
Cebu Province, however, did not finish the day without a medal as the karatekas stepped up, delivering six gold medals from the kumite event at the Plenary Hall, NOCC.
The archers from Dumaguete City were on target, racking up 11 gold medals at the Silliman University archery grounds to power the host city to the top of the medal standing.
Dumaguete City moved up with 27 gold medals, 16 silvers and 19 bronzes, while Cebu Province went down to second place with 23 gold medals, 21 silvers and 30 bronzes. Cebu City is in third place with 16-31-31 medal haul.
The karatekas who won the gold medals for Cebu Province were Trisha Jean Ogoc (25kgs.), Rheiane Annarie Luza (35kgs.) and Precious Avegail Belicario (40kgs.) in the girls’ 13-below kumite.
Giovani Ephraim Apuya (45kgs.) captured the gold medal in the boys’ 13-below kumite, while Rome Florence Metante (52kgs) and Jerson Sanchez (57kgs.) snagged gold medals in the boys’ 14-15 kumite event.
Cebu Province finished the three-day karatedo event with a total of 12 gold medals, eight silvers and seven bronzes.
“We’re very satisfied with our performance. It’s almost 100 percent for us because on our 27 athletes only three or four did not qualify (to Batang Pinoy National Championship),” said karatedo coach Rhodee Antoinette Saavedra.
The swimming team also chipped in two gold medals for Cebu Province, thanks to national junior triathlon member Karen Andrea Manayon and Charles Jeremiah Lipura.
Manayon won the girls’ 13-15 200-meter butterfly event in 3 minutes and 13.80 seconds, beating Raela Duchess Grace Uy of Bacolod by six seconds. Kristina Angelika Torres of Cebu City settled third with a time of 3:24.69.
Lipura bagged his second gold medal in the boys’ 13-15 200m butterfly following his win in the 100m butterfly last Sunday. He clocked 2:32.80 in the 200m butterfly to beat Evriel Prince Apura of Dumaguete City and Vince John Edmon Cano of Bacolod City, who timed 2:51.34 and 3:03.30.
Cebu Province tankers finished the tournament with four golds, 13 silvers and 20 bronzes.
“We are very satisfied with our performance. The swimming team only had 12 athletes,” said coach Mary Joana Remolino.
Boxer JM Andrejas added another gold medal to Cebu Province’s nine-gold medal haul yesterday with a second round KO victory against Bienjemar Codoy of Cebu City at the Dumaguete City Plaza 8.
Cebu Province will count on its medal prospect events like arnis, taekwondo, chess and ball games to regain the lead. (RSC)