STO. DOMINGO, Ilocos Sur -- While taekwondo jin Arnold Alesna, Jr. celebrated his gold medal, walkathoner Sally Campus was denied her gold via disqualification as the Palarong Pambansa 2018 entered its third day of competition in this heritage province Wednesday.
Alesna, 12, of Buhangin Central Elementary School in Davao City, who is returning after a three-year absence in the annual national sportsfest, clinched the gold in elementary boys Kyorugi 1 (120-128 centimeters) by beating Rex Daniel Gumimba of Socsargen in their championship match.
"Naglisod ko sa among finals pero gihimo nako akong best kay dugay najud ko nangarap mag gold sa Palaro (The finals was tough but I did my best since I've been dreaming of winning a Palaro gold)," he said in an interview with SunStar Davao at the Sto. Domingo Gym here.
Alesna, who won three fights to arrange a titular showdown with Gumimba, said he was only thinking of winning the gold even during the actual match.
He added, "Nag-expect najud ko makuha ang gold kay gipangandaman jud nako og sakto ang Palaro, last naman pud gud nako ni sa elementary (I really expected to win the gold as I prepared hard for this. This will be my last Palaro in the elementary division)."
Heartbreaking
Over at the President Elpidio Quirino Stadium in the Municipality of Bantay, Campus' elation was short-lived since after she finished the secondary girls 2,000-meter walkathon about 80 meters ahead of the runner-up, she was told only later that she was disqualified.
"Tulo daw ko ka yellow card pero wala man jud ko kabantay ato nga niabot sa tulo (I was told I got three yellow cards but I was not aware it reached three)," Campus, who won the 2,000m walk gold in Antique Palaro last year, cried to her teammates and coach at the Davraa quarters at Ilocos Sur National High School.
She was urged to eat her lunch but she was not up to it. Instead she sat on a corner and cried while others approached her and tried to console her.
The Grade 11 student of Kapatagan National High School in Digos City, according to her coach, had already mastered the walk and it's ironic she would be getting three yellow cards that resulted to her disqualification.
"Last year tong nag gold siya sa Antique wala man gani siya’y yellow card nga first time ra to niya karon pa hinuon siya (She did not get a yellow card when she won the gold in her first Palaro in Antique last year)," her Kapatagan coach said.
Like gold
Elah Janica Liwag, 16, a student of the Philippine Women's College, was seen wiping away her tears after salvaging a silver medal in the secondary girls taekwondo poomsae category A yesterday.
She said, "Na-overwhelm ako!" Liwag continued, "After 2014 kasi, three years din akong hindi nag-qualify sa Palaro. Ngayon, grabe!"
She thanked God to whom she dedicated every poomsae she performs and she also thanked his parents who came all the way from Davao City just to cheer for her.
"Grabe talaga ginastos nila para lang suportahan ako dito sa Palaro (They spent a lot just to support me here in Palaro). I am so overwhelmed with happiness," she told SunStar Davao.
Liwag garnered 7.970 points while gold medalist Chelsea Tacay of Cordillera Administrative Region registered 8.085 points.
The Dabawenya aims more medals in the mixed and team poomsae events, saying: "May chance kami, just believe in God."
Short
The Davraa table tennis team accounted for two silvers and two bronzes at the Philippine Science High School Gym in the Municipality of San Ildefonso.
Jehum Avila, Jhiven Clamucha, John Kim, and Sheim Kim Lucernas joined efforts but fell short of the gold after losing to Central Visayas in the team event.
Davraa cornered another silver in secondary boys table tennis doubles event courtesy of Herzel Miles Abendan and Yves Jan Olin Buhat while the bronzes were won by the mixed doubles team event and the girls team of Tristan Jane dela Cruz, Antonette Rose Augustine Neri, Jannah Paculba and Hannah Lhenn Perayo.