TAGUM CITY -- Arnis player Ian Podiquit saved the day for Cagayan de Oro as he delivered the City of Golden Friendship’s seventh gold on Wednesday when the late-surging defending champion Davao City amassed 6 golds at the start of swimming competition in the 2019 Batang Pinoy Mindanao qualifying games here.
The City High pride Podiquit triumphed in light stick showdown to join woodpusher Ruelle Canino of Kauswagan Elementary School and the fivesome of taekwondo jins Young Hwan Lee and Carlos Pizana of Corpus Christi School and Von Cedric Paler of Pilgrim Christian College, Harold Butaslac and Cymon Edison Jagonia as Team CDO’s source of gold halfway of the multifarious meet for the best 15-under athletes in Mindanao.
“Unlike last year in Oroquieta City, we’re one among those surprised in the BP Meet here kay daghan kusog nag-apil that even some of them ayha pa karon dinhi nagparamdam,” said city sports chief Jaymar Rivera.
From fifth place on Tuesday’s medal standing, Davao City sparkled in swim event with gold efforts from Margarette Amoguis, Lora Micah Amoguis, Alissa Ysabelle Lazarraga, Pietro Dominic Requiza and Juliana Marie Villanueva to overtake second-placer Tacurong and threaten three-day pacesetter South Cotabato with only two-gold difference, 13-15.
South Cotabato was hardly noticed on the pool, but its neighboring region North Cotabato suddenly made a big leap in the centerpiece event, nosing out the Davao City tankers with a total of seven gold take in the first of the three-day swim action.
General Santos City, powered by triple-gold medalist Paul Anthony Rodriguez of taekwondo, remains at third spot with 12 golds.
Meanwhile, Oro’s Canino and company hope to win another gold in chess in standard event (one hour and 30 minutes play to finish) which is still in the fourth round as of this writing, Wednesday afternoon.
The rapid queen Canino and secondary boys campaigner Clyde Saraus stay perfect with 3 of 3 performance in the seven-round Swiss system chessfest. While Lorebina Carrasco II and Santiago Lumancas IV with a similar 2-1 win-loss record.
The lean but mean Oro boxing contingent will vie for golds on February 8.
“Yes, kita ang overall champion last year in Oroquieta pero gamay ra atong entries karon maningkamot lang gihapon,” said boxing coach Elmer Pamisa.
Other qualifying games saw the Oro ladies blanking the Davao City bets, 2-0 in beach volley and the Oro booters overpowering host Tagum City, 6-2 in women’s futsal.
2019 BATANG PINOY MINDANAO MEDAL TALLY
As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 6
LGU Gold Silver Bronze
South Cotabato 15 14 8
Davao City 13 8 13
Tacurong City 13 8 2
General Santos City 12 11 10
Koronadal City 9 6 3
Cagayan de Oro 7 6 18
North Cotabato 7 4 0
Butuan City 6 7 9
Zamboanga City 5 6 0
Iligan City 2 7 6
Davao del Norte 2 3 7
Kidapawan City 2 3 3