OROQUIETA City, Misamis Occidental -- General Santos City took over the overall lead after they won golds in pencak silat and taekwondo a day before the Batang Pinoy Mindanao Games came to a close.
A total of 17 golds were secured by General Santos all day Friday, March 10, in different sports to clinch top spot with 44 gold medals, 47 silvers and 48 bronzes.
Trailing behind General Santos City are Davao City (43-21-16) and Davao del Norte (38-27-36) in second and third, respectively.
Meanwhile, an athlete to watch in the Batang Pinoy National Finals, set in Baguio City this September, is Arnis Wonder Chelsea Lumapay of Tagum City who took home 10 medals out of 10 events she participated in, nine golds and a bronze.
“I am so happy, nahirapan ako sa traditional pero salamat kinaya ko pa din po,” 10-year-old Lumapay, who is also set to join this year’s Palarong Pambansa in Vigan in April, said.
She came from a brood of arnisadors with both her older siblings also playing the sport. It was Lumapay’s second Batang Pinoy stint after the nationals held in Tagum City last 2016.
Rio Kissel Ungaya, Hannah Seins Leano and Rica Mae Boholst of Zamboanga City took home three of four golds in pencak silat Tanding teen girls event Class A, B and C, respectively. Hazel Mar Padilla of General Santos City won gold in Class E of same event. (PSC PR)