Dumaguete City — Host Dumaguete dislodged Cebu Province from the top spot in the partial medal standings after the fourth day of competition in the Batang Pinoy Visayas Games 2017 here.
The host city harvested 11 gold medals yesterday, nine coming from its archers and two from its swimmers to move to the top spot with a 27-16-19 (gold-silver-bronze) haul in this multi-sporting meet for student-athletes aged 15 years and below.
Cebu Province also had a productive day after it collected nine gold medals to hike its tally to 23-21-30 for second place. Cebu City climbed from fourth place to third place with a 16-31-31 tally while Bacolod City is at fourth (14-9-14) and Aklan at fifth (14-8-5).
But expect Cebu Province to bounce back today and regain the lead as some of its athletes take part in the medal-rich arnis and taekwondo at the
Negros Oriental State University (Norsu) gymnasium and at the plenary hall of the Negros Oriental Convention Center (NOCC).
Yesterday, Cebu Province made a living from its karatekas, which came up with six gold medals in the kumite (sparring) event. The gold medalists are
Rome Florence Metante (52kg), Jerson Sanchez (57kg), Giovani Ephraim Apuya (45kg), Trisha Jean Ogoc (25kg), Rheiane Annarie Luza (35kg) and Precious Avegail Belicario (40kg).
Cebu Province’s karatedo team as a whole actually won 12 gold medals in the meet.
“Even though most of our players are from the different parts of Cebu, we managed to unite for Batang Pinoy. We train together two months before this tournament so that we can familiarize everyone’s skills,” said Cebu Province karatedo head coach Rhodee Antoinette Saavedra of the Association of the Upliftment of Karatedo (AUK) Cebu. “We have a total of 27 players in karatedo and we are proud that we won 12 gold medals in total. Without the support of the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission, I think we would have difficulties achieving our goal in the Batang Pinoy.”
In swimming, Cebu Province won a total of four gold medals, with two added yesterday courtesy of Charles Jeremiah Lipura (boys 200m butterfly) and Karen Andrea Manayon (girls 200m butterfly).
Adding to Cebu Province’s gold medal haul yesterday was boxer JM Andrejas, who knocked out Cebu City’s Bienjemar Codoy in the second round of their 40-kilogram youth division finals at the Dumaguete City Plaza Square.
“I am happy and extremely proud of the performance of the athletes. It’s the result of our preparations, the talent and dedication of the athletes and coaches and the support of our governor. We hope that we can sustain our momentum so that we can finish strong,” said Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) Executive Director Ramil Abing. “The outcome so far gives us already certain sense of fulfillment.”
The Cebu City Niños, meanwhile, managed just four golds yesterday.
The gold medalists were archer Zhack Randolf Torreon, karatekas Kent Mangitngit, Adrian Ray Ayuda and Genda Rya Atillo.