BANTAY, ILOCOS SUR - The gold medal evaded Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) on Day 2 of Palarong Pambansa 2018 competition as of Tuesday, April 17.
The tankers, however, salvaged three silvers and two bronzes at the start of the swimfest at the President Elpidio Quirino Stadium here.
Ivo Nikolai Enot, Lora Micah Amoguis and Juliana Marien Villanueva clinched silvers for Davraa while John Martin Yarra and the elementary girls 200-meter medley relay team accounted for bronzes.
Enot improved his personal best time (1:08.97) as he registered 1:08.49 in elementary boys 100-meter backstroke to trail behind gold edalist Calabarzon's Prince Dave Calma (1:09.36). The bronze went to Yohan Mikhail Cabana of Calabarzon (1:08.55).
Davao City's Enot, an incoming Grade 7 student at Collegio de San Ignacio, was satisfied with his performance. "I am happy that I beat my time but I could had done better. Dapat mas binilisan ko sa dive," the 12-year-old, who is competing in his last Palaro in the elementary level, said.
Amoguis, an incoming Grade 7 student at Abba's Orchard, timed 1:13.16 to finish second in elementary girls 100m backstroke as Calabarzon's Roshanne Biglete pocketed the gold with a time of 1:12.26. Central Luzon's Trixie Ortiguera (1:13.19) got the bronze.
"I was super pressure racing in the last 50m (smiles). I hope and pray to win more medals in my second and third day events. The training is over and all I can do is give my best and pray. I want to really win the 50m backstroke," 12-year-old Amoguis added.
Villanueva, for her part, registered 4:45.01 to annex the secondary girls 400m freestyle silver. National Capital Region's Gwyneth Amber Cawaling (4:43.00) captured the gold while the bronze went to Socsargen's Krisha Apin (4:45.56).
The 13-year-old Precious International School of Davao's Villanueva said she only expects a silver and bronze in this Palaro being a newbie in the secondary division.
"Masaya napo ako kasi di ko talaga ito inexpect. Mas gagalingan ko po sa iba ko pang events lalo na sa 800m freestyle," she said.
Yarra took the bronze in secondary boys 200m butterfly while the elementary girls 200m medley relay team of Amoguis with her sister Liaa Margarette, Rissa Sahagun and Mary Grace Batalla.
Day 2 of the swimming competition resumes Wednesday, April 18.