Cebu City tankers start slow as Batang Pinoy kicks off
Southeast Asian Games silver medalist in marathon Mary Joy Tabal from Cebu lights the urn to signal the start of the 2015 Batang Pinoy National Finals. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Team Cebu City’s swimming team was off to a slow start in the Batang Pinoy National Finals, which kicked off yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The Niños managed just two silver medals at the pool, a far cry from the eight-gold and eight-silver haul of the leading Quezon City team. Cebu Province also made waves at the start of swimming competition yesterday, hauling three gold medals.
Raven Faith Alcoseba led Cebu Province’s strong start as she topped the girls’ 13-15 400-meter Long Course (LC) freestyle event with a time of 4:50.19. She also ruled the 13-15 200-meter backstroke event with a time of 2:30.42. Rian Mario Tirol, meanwhile, added a gold in the boys’ 13-15 50-meter breaststroke (32.52 secs).
Gold medalists for Quezon City were Miguel Barreto (12 under 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle), Patrick Galvez (13-15 400m freestyle), Keane Cedric Ting (13-15 200m freestyle), Rafael Barreto (13-15 100m freestyle), Phillip Joaquin Yu (13-15 200m butterly), and the girls quartet of Camille Lauren Buico, Sarah Ashley Alvina, Marjorie Mangulat and Gabrielle Mica Relampagos (15 under 200m medley relay). The Quezon City squad of Armand Pierre Chan, Kyle Barraza, Rafael Barreto and Michael Barreto also dominated the boys’ 15 under 200m medley relay.
Swimming events will continue today and tomorrow.
Meanwhile, PSC Chairman Ricardo “Richie” Garcia said Cebu City did a good job in its grand opening ceremony yesterday.
He said Cebu may have broke the record of the previous National Finals of Batang Pinoy in terms of attendance of athletes and teams.
“According to my staff, Cebu broke the record, but I have to clarify it first,” he said. “But I am confident that Cebu broke the record.”
Garcia also said that top performers in this multi-sporting meet for athletes aged 18 years below may have a chance to be included in the national training pool.
“There will be scouts and representatives from different National Sports Associations (NSA) here in Cebu as well as Philippine Olympic Committee scouts who will monitor athletes who are qualified to be included in the Philippine National Team training pool.”
Provincial Board Member and veteran basketball coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba was present in behalf of Gov. Hilario Davide III.
In his speech, he emphasized that sports is not just about playing but also learning values.
“In sports, you learn discipline and character building,” the multi-titled basketball coach of the Southwestern University Cobras told the young athletes. “All the glory is not in winning. The best glory is about falling down and getting up.”
He told Cebu Daily News that his message was to inspire the youth to grow as matured athletes in the future.
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