BAGUIO City is on course for its title retention bid after amassing 36 gold medals including 47 silver and 59 bronze in the penultimate day of the Batang Pinoy national championships hosted by the city.
City Sports coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales said the figure is based on their partial and unofficial count for the weeklong sports competition which ends September 22. But based on the Batang Pinoy Official medal tally as of 3 p.m. of September 20, Baguio City has only 17-28-32 trailing Laguna with 18-57-13.
Archery finally hit their mark securing two golds, two silvers and two more bronzes with Cyrus Obenita and Aisha Daquioag winning in the cadet mixed team while Aira Mae Gali showed dominance in the 800 meter girls’ secondary running event, bagging the gold with 2:22.76.
Gali edged Charmaine de Ocampo of Dasmariñas City and Mary Joy Loberans of Cebu City, who took the silver and bronze spots, respectively, as athletics also churned in two golds, five silvers and four bronzes.
Meanwhile, Dasmariñas City bet Jason Jabol and Cebu Province’s Jeanna Cañete each snared three gold medals in their respective sports.
The 15-year-old Jabol conspired with Jherwin Ricaforte, Charles Antones and Lord Angel Santos to rule the boys’ 4x100-meter relay event with a time of 44.83seconds at the Baguio Athletic Bowl, following up his previous feats in the boys 200m (22.70sec) and 100m dash (11.59sec).
Cañete, a 13-year-old student from Talisay City Science High School, for her part, dominated the cycling competitions after prevailing in the 13-15 girls individual time trial (11:16), the 1.5-kilometer road race (4:43.86) and the two-lap criterium race.
In karatedo, Cebu Province collected three gold medals in the kumite events at the SM Baguio courtesy of Janine Narboada (10-11 girls -140cm), Trexie Joy Ogoc (10-11 girls +140cm) and Precious Avegail Belicario (12-13 girls -150cm).
In chess, International Master-elect Daniel Quizon of Dasmariñas City reigned supreme in the boys 15-under standard event after finishing the five-round tournament with 4.5 points on four wins and a single draw in the final round.
The 13-year-old Quizon, who has been representing the country in numerous international age-group competitions, edged eventual silver winner Jave Mareck Peteros of Cebu City (3.5 points) and bronze medalist Reishi Boy Polan of Tubigon, Bohol (3 points).
He guns for a sweep of all events when he competes in the blitz and rapid competition today.
Fellow Dasmariñas City bet Kylen Joy Mordido, meanwhile, ruled the distaff side with 4.5 points also on four wins and one draw, beating General Santos City’s Rhea Jean Rafols (4 points) and Pasig City’s Josemier Panol (3 points).
Also sharing the spotlight were Cebu City’s Edelyn Vosotros and Dasmariñas City’s Michael Concio Jr. in the standard girls and boys 13-under. (Roderick Osis)