A 12-YEAR-OLD son of a widowed banana packer from Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte (Davnor) struck for the first Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2018 gold medal as athletics competition opened Monday, February 19, at the Olympic-sized University of Mindanao (UM) track oval in Matina, Davao City.
Jerbie Daclan, a fifth grade student of Lungaog Elementary School, heaved the iron ball to a distance of 9.15 meters in his sixth attempt to rule the elementary boys shotput event.
Daclan, making his debut in the regional meet, will advance to the Palarong Pambansa 2018 in Vigan along with teammate Gregorio Torres who annexed the silver (8.12m).
Daclan, in an interview with SunStar Davao, said he exerted all his strength for the throw and dedicated the win to his father who passed away two years ago due to an illness.
"I-dedicate nako akoang gold sa akoang papa ug ang incentives ani kay pang palit nakog tiles sa iyahang lubnganan (This gold is for my father and I will use my incentives to put tiles around his grave)," he said.
Daclan's head coach Rosalina Dacaya, meanwhile, was elated by Daclan's feat, "Madayon na jud ang ilahang road to Vigan City (They will start their road to Vigan)," Dacaya said. She was assisted by coach Noel Balong.
Daclan will compete in elementary boys discus throw and javeline throw events today and tomorrow, respectively.
Meanhile, Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Palarong Pambansa veteran Russel Ricaforte, 17, will advance to the Palaro after registering 13.16m to pocket the secondary boys shot put gold.
Ricaforte, a Senior High School student of Nieves Villarica National High School, said in the vernacular: "I'm glad to make it to the Palaro again. I will do my best to win a Palaro medal this year."
The son of a motorcycle driver and an employee of a non-government organization (NGO) made his Palaro debut in 2016.