Cebuana wins first gold medal for Central Visayas in Palaro

Shanelle Siasoyco of Ateneo de Cebu is CVIRAA’s first gold medal winner in the 2015 Palarong Pambansa in Tagum City. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

Tagum City, Davao del Norte— The third time proved to be the charm for this 15-year-old athlete, producing the first gold medal for the Central Visayas  Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) yesterday in the 58th edition of the Palarong Pambansa at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex here in this province known as the Banana Capital of the Philippines.

In a performance she didn’t see coming, Shanelle Demilys Siasoyco ruled the secondary girls shot put event with a throw of 10.35 meters.

“I didn’t really expect to win. I just kept telling myself to beat myself. I see myself as my own opponent and my goal has always been to beat my personal best,” said Siasoyco, a third year high school student at the Sacred Heart School- Ateneo de Cebu.

The golden throw was Siasoyco’s personal best in the Palaro, finally winning a gold after two unsuccessful stints in the country’s biggest gathering of elementary and secondary athletes.

“It was a tough competition. It was so hot early in the day then it rained in the afternoon. It was physically challenging and I knew the field was tough,” Siasoyco, whose personal best in the event stands at 10.32, a feat she made in this year’s CVIRAA meet held in Balamban town, midwest Cebu.

Siasoyco won the gold at the expense of Region 6’s Dianne Zayco and National Capital Region’s (NCR) Daniella Daynata, who settled for silver and bronze with 10.19 and 10.16, respectively.

“At least I have proven to myself that I can do it. I am overwhelmed. It feels good to give my own contribution because we are one in this team,” added Siasoyco, who will try to win another gold when she competes in discus throw tomorrow.

Siasoyco credited her coach Precing Capampangan for the feat.

“He instilled discipline in us. In our practices, we don’t measure our throws. We focused on how we execute. We make sure that execution is proper and it paid off now,” she said.

Not only did she deliver the region’s first gold this year, Siasoyco also ended CVIRAA’s drought at the oval.

Region 7 failed to win a single gold in athletics last year though it still finished fourth in the overall rankings.

Last year was the time when the Palaro reverted to medal tally system. Region 7 had a shaky campaign but hang tough to salvage fourth place by finishing with 24 golds, 21 silvers and 41 bronzes.

Region 7 edged out the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) for the spot as the latter also harvested 24 golds but only had 11 silvers and 12 bronzes.

Though some events started yesterday, the formal opening will be held today. The opening day was moved back to give way to the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight.

The first athlete to win a gold for this year was Region 6’s John Christian Capasao, who won the secondary boys discus throw event with 40.60 meters throw. CVIRAA’s Angel Mark Sicad settled for seventh place at 32.78.

Meanwhile, CVIRAA smashers  put up a strong start as they swept their foes from the ARMM in their first game in the boys’ team tie in badminton.

CVIRAA, composed of smashers from the vaunted Banilad Elementary School under coach Eddie Estoconing, defeated ARMM, 21-6, 21-1 in the first singles game, and 21-6, 21-6 in the second singles game.

Composed of Lyrden Laborte, Neil Villarante, Allen Penute, and Jeff Angelo Guangco, the team were just too much for their ARMM foes.

But Estoconing said winning by big leads doesn’t really matter. What’s important is that the team wins.

“No count na ang big lead kay kung mapildi ug usa, tagak na,” Estoconing said.  (A big lead doesn’t count because if you’ll lose a single game, you’re eliminated.) /with a report from Correspondent Irish D. Torres

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