SOME of Cebu’s bemedalled archers had their humble beginnings at Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial School (DCAGMS) and a new batch of archers are now taking the same path after making waves in the 2019 Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying Leg in Iloilo City.
The lean and mean archery team of Cebu City Niños, all products of the grassroots program of the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC), made their impact felt after hauling five gold medals, four silvers and four bronzes as of Wednesday, Feb. 27 at the West Visayas State University field.
Aldrener A. Igot Jr., a Grade 7 student of DCAGMS, accounted for all five gold medals. Igot topped the 20-meter, 30m, 40m, 50m and overall qualifying round in the boys’ Cub division.
Igot, the half-brother of former Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Arlando Añora, made a complete turn-around after settling for two bronze medals last year.
The six-man team has four archers from Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial School, one from the University of Cebu and one from Matilda Bradford Christian School. The archers are Shane Densil Dinopol, Khalil Jusper Abella, Lawrence Ren Degamo, James Zyril Fano and Kien Zhyron Torreon.
“I practice every day to improve. I practiced in our school but every Saturday. we go to Holiday Gym and Spa for long distance training. The field in our school is only good for short distance,” the 13-year-old Igot told SunStar Cebu.
Cebu City’s archery coach Ma. Teresita Beltran said that the archery program of Gothong has been going on for more than 20 years and has produced gold medalists and qualifiers in the Palarong Pambansa.
One of the school’s products is Cebu City’s current trainer and former Palarong Pambansa player Michael Solier.
“These players are products of the grassroots program. After I graduated from the school, I started as a volunteer coach and I’ve been doing it for free. I want these young kids to reach the national level,” said Solier.
Beltran said that they start to pick potential athletes as young as second graders, while some are the siblings of the former players.
“Every summer, there is a grassroots program done by CCSC. We train the winners of the culminating activity. There are kids also who come to us and say they’re interested and we train them. There’s a training matrix already for the archery program,” Beltran said.
On the other hand, Cebu Province continued their impressive showing that was highlighted with a straight set upset win over Mina, Iloilo, 21-16, 21-19, in the championship game of boys’ sepak takraw at the Central Philippine University gym.
Cebu Province, composed of players Simon Ricafort, Spike Carriego, Jims Dondiego, Kian Barrita of Lilo-an and Arjeil Butaslac of Catmon, had to defeat three teams from Iloilo to win the gold medal.
“It’s really an unexpected win. We had a hard time because we lost (to Mina, Iloilo) in the elimination round. We had to beat the number one in the other bracket which was Batad, Iloilo for us to make it to the semis,” head coach Olimpio Mantua Jr. told SunStar Cebu. (RSC)