Davao City’s 12-year-old chess prodigy Hannah Segara delivered big for the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) on Day 2 of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, steering the Eagles to the elementary girls (EG) blitz chess team gold and securing a silver medal in the individual blitz event at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) library in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, Monday, May 26.
Segara, a student of Buhisan Elementary School, teamed up with Alexie Timkang of Luzon Central Elementary School (Davao Oriental) to edge out Calabarzon’s Mary Angelie Bacojo and Sofia Denise Saludares in a tight finish. Both teams earned 10 points, but Davraa clinched the gold via superior tiebreaks, 56.5-56.0. Calabarzon settled for silver, while Northern Mindanao’s Mary Janelle Tan and Janin Dhrey Querequere took the bronze with 9.5 points.
“Happy kaayo silang duha, Ma'am. Na-achieve nila ilang goal duha (They’re both very happy, Ma’am. They achieved their goal together),” said Davraa coach Kristine Joy Garciano in a Messenger interview with SunStar Davao.
Garciano, who also coached Segara in last year’s Palaro in Cebu, where she bagged silver in the standard event, noted this was the first time Segara teamed up with Timkang — and they clicked.
In the individual blitz event, Segara remained unbeaten for six rounds but lost the crucial final match to Northern Mindanao’s Tan, who had five wins and one loss going into the last round. Both finished with six points, but Tan took the gold via direct encounter or “winner-over-the-other” rule.
Pagayon falls short
Meanwhile, over at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City, Dabawenya runner Mary Jane Pagayon placed fourth in the secondary girls’ 3,000-meter run with a time of 10 minutes and 55.7 seconds — narrowly missing the podium. She took bronze in the same event at last year’s Cebu Palaro.
The top three finishers were Chrisia Me Tajarros of Eastern Visayas (10:18.6), Mary Mae Magbanua of Caraga (10:48.4), and Nathalei Faye Miguel of Ilocos Region (10:50.4).
"Dawat nako po ang results, Ma'am, ug mao ra gyud akong nakaya (I’ve accepted the results, Ma'am, and that’s really all I was able to manage)," Pagayon told SunStar Davao. "Pasalamat gihapon ko sa Ginoo nga nag start ug finish ko nga safe ug layo sa injury I'm still thankful to God that I was able to start and finish safely and without injury)."
She will aim to redeem herself in the 1,500m, where she won silver last year, and take another shot at her favorite event — the 800m.
Para trackers on a roll
In para-athletics, the Davao Eagles secured seven medals — two golds, three silvers, and two bronzes on the first day of competition.
Jericho Brylle Soler of Davao City National High School (Sped boys long jump T20) and Karen Aros of Kapalong NHS (Sped girls shot put F20) each clinched gold.
Silver medals went to Cristanto Cahucom of Kapatagan NHS (Sped boys shot put F13 open), Darlene Potoy of Kapalong NHS (Sped girls long jump T20), and Jullian Dablo of Sto. Niño NHS (Sped girls shot put F55/F56 open).
Bronze finishers were Alyannah Keizha Marie Sarmiento of Buhisan Elementary School (SPED girls long jump T13 open) and Jamica Lafayette of Sudlon Elementary School (SPED girls long jump T42/T44 open). MLSA