TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte -- Matthieu Adrien Tao of Davao City clinched Davao City’s first gold medal in Batang Pinoy 2016 National Championship swimming competition at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex pool in the city Monday, November 28.
Tao clocked one minute and 1.98 seconds to rule the boys 12-under 100-meter freestyle event followed by Midsayap’s John Alexandr Mich Talosig and South Cotabato’s Emmanuel Suarez who finished second and third, respectively, among 19 other swimmers.
Talosig timed 1:04.80 to pocket the silver while Suarez registered 1:05.28.
Tao, however, fell shy of the gold in boys 12-under 200m backstroke. He finished with a time of 2:34.24, trailing behind Maenard Batnag of Baguio City who was ahead with 2:31.26 while the bronze went to Jake Ellis Evangelista of Batangas City (2:34.87).
Over at the Bulwagang Panlalawigan, Davao City girl chessers win their respective first round matches.
Dabawenya Honey Grace Buenafe defeated Khadija Sahak of Zamboanga City in girls 13-17 standard chess category while Samantha Umayan outclassed Aliyah Mae Libres of Tacurong City in girls under-12 standard chess.
Davao City's Francis Xavier Guimalan, however, bowed to Gee Ian Gallano of Koronadal City in boys 13-17 standard chess.
In pencak silat, Jay Ian Pabilan drew first blood by beating Kenshindel Barrio of Laguna in teen class B boys 43-47 kilograms while his teammate Rogel Henric Caasi lost to Jerome Negapatan.
Matches were still ongoing as of Monday.