DESPITE falling short of claiming the overall title in the Batang Pinoy Luzon Leg, Baguio City remains upbeat in retaining the national title.
Baguio City finished second with 36 golds, 47 silvers and 60 bronzes behind Laguna’s 38 gold medals to go with 35 silvers and 36 bronzes it has earned. The province topped the swimming competition with 13 golds, 20 silvers and 12 bronzes while bagging additional golds in arnis (5), athletics (2) and badminton (2).
“We did our best,” said Baguio City head of delegation Gaudencio Gonzales. “The important thing is to retain the overall title in the National Finals.”
The Summer Capital, which won the overall title when it hosted the PYG-BP National Finals last year, has the most number of entries at 358. The City of Pines won 10 golds in taekwondo and nine in archery.
Quezon City was third with 24 golds, 19 silvers and 11 bronzes in the tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for students and out-of-school youth aged 15 years and below.
Pangasinan ranked fourth with 23 golds, 24 silvers and 26 bronzes followed by Pasig City (22-24-27), Taguig City (19-17-28), Dasmarinas City, Cavite (18-10-15), Dagupan City, Pangasinan (16-12-11), Muntinlupa City (14-8-5) and Makati City (13-8-15).
In futsal, Naga City won the boys and girls 13-under and girls 15-under titles while Pasig City topped the boys 15-under event.
In volleyball, Sta. Rosa, Laguna downed Tanauan City, Batangas, 2-0, to win the gold medal in the boys division, while Angeles City prevailed over Mandaluyong City, 2-0, in the girls beach volleyball final.
Antipolo City, represented by California Academy and mentored by school owner Dr. Obet Vital, downed Caloocan, 25-17, 25-20, in the finals to give Antipolo City its gold in girls volleyball at the close of the weeklong competition organized by the PSC for in-school and out-of-school children aged 15 and below.
Pangasinan Province, represented by Milson Janry Galzote and Jayvee Perlasan, beat Olongapo City, 21-15, 22-20, in the gold medal match of boys beach volleyball. Mandaluyong took the bronze.
In basketball, Dasmariñas City, Cavite defeated Mariveles, Bataan, 101-97, to win the gold in the boys division, while Pangasinan won the gold over Pasig City, 61-58, in the girls division.