PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- After the swimmers continued their gold haul, day 2 was not so bad as Davao City’s walkathoner Lyka Catubig, karateka Robert Avancena, arnisador Jollah Baruiz and dancesports pair Sam Ashee Cameros and Precious Hanna Hecale pooled in four gold medals in the Batang Pinoy 2019 National Championships in separate venues here as Tuesday, August 27.
First and last
Palarong Pambansa 2019 bronze medalist Catubig, 15, of Bago Aplaya walked her way to a golden finish in girls 15-under 2,000m walk by clocking 10 minutes and 57.9 seconds at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex.
She prevailed over next two finishers Jane Krissel Buizon of Pangasinan Province who registered 11:59.5 and Summer Morante of Binan City (12:03.03).
Catubig, a 15-year-old Grade 9 student of Erico T. Nograles National High School-B, said, “Nalipay ko og nakulbaan kay karon rako nakadula sa Batang Pinoy nationals og mao napud ni akong last kay 16 nako next year (I’ m so happy and nervous as this was my first Batang Pinoy nationals and this is also my last since I would no longer be eligible to play next year).”
She only thought of her parents Ruel, a jeepney driver, and Leonila, a Red Ribbon employee, and her teachers who have been very supportive of her endeavors, during the race.
Surprise champ
Robert Avancena trained three hours every day for the past three months to master his routine and his efforts were not in vain.
The Catalunan Grande resident captured the boys 12-13 boys kata gold medal at the SM City Puerto Princesa, the first for Davao City’ s karatedo team.
In a phone interview with SunStar Davao, he was elated by his feat. “Wala ko magdahum pero ako lang gitarong akong kata (I did not expect to win the gold but I just really did my best in my kata).”
He is no longer competing in other events but Avancena said he is going home fulfilled.
His parents Romeo, businessman, and Lotes, a housewife, watched him perform Tuesday and that motivated him even more to give his all.
More golds
Over at the Robinson’s Place, Baruiz struck for gold in the girls traditional individual anyo single weapon event.
Kapatirang Doble Elisi chief Mario Palazuelo, who served as technical official in the arnis competition, lauded Baruiz’s feat having delivered the first gold for the team.
Baruiz, 13, is a student of the Davao City National High School.
At the Palawan National School Abueg Gym, Sam Ashee Cameros and Precious Hanna Hecale topped the juvenile A standard event of the dancesports competition.
The Davao duo bested Cebu City’s Nigel John Angel and Shadelle Nina Hernandez.
Chester Patt Herrera joined forces with Francheska Dezzly Darvin to grab the bronze for Davao City in juvenile D standard as their teammates Oliver Andrei Tangara and Bernadette Grace Daquipil also took a bronze in junior C standard.