Quezon City tankers pull away

Jobert Indaya pf Cebu Province competes in the 200-meter freestyle in the Batang Pinoy National Finals at Cebu City Sports Center pool. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

Cebu Province tankers added two more gold medals yesterday bringing their two-day total to five even as Cebu City ended its frustrations in the pool by claiming its first gold in the second day of the Batang Pinoy National Finals swimming event  at the Cebu City Sports Center pool.

Raven Faith Alcoseba led Cebu Province’s second day drive as she bagged two gold medals in the girls’ 13-15 100m Long Course (LM) in  1:10.14 and the 400m LC Individual Medley (IM) clocking 5:26.26. She also captured two gold medals on opening day, racking up her tally to four gilts.

The Niños on the other hand, earned their very first gold medal thanks to Jo Lander Molina’s inspired performance in the 12-under 200m LC breaststroke event, clocking 2:57.11.

QUEZON CITY PULLS AWAY

Quezon City continues to rule the medal-rich swimming event by adding eight gold medals yesterday for a two-day total of 17 and 18 overall after adding a gold in triathlon.

Gold medalists for Quezon City are Patrick Galvez (13-15 200m freestyle), Miguel Barreto (12-under 50m butterfly and 400m IM), Camille Lauren Buico (12-under 50m butterfly), Rafael Barreto (13-15 50m butterfly), Sarah Ashley Alvina (13-15 200m breaststroke), Phillip Joaquin Yu-Santos (13-15 400m IM) and the girls’ quartet of Buico, Christian Phoebe Orlina, Alyza Paige Ng and Marjorie Manguiat (15-under 200m freestyle relay).

Yesterday, Team Manila earned 3 golds and a silver while Iligan City collected 2 golds, 2 silvers and a solitary bronze.

The swimming event will conclude today.

BADMINTON

Mandaue City’s Zinah Bejasa trounced teammate Karyl Rio, 21-5, 22-20, yesterday to advance to the final round of the Girls 12-Under category at the Metro Sports Center.

Bejasa will face Anthea Gonzales of Luzon for the gold medal after the latter crushed Mindanao’s Maxine Olango, 21-12, 21-9.

The 15-under matches will also commence today.

NIÑOS GROPE FOR FORM

Cebu City’s miseries extended to its bets in triathlon who failed to win the coveted gold.

Yuan Chiongbian only placed third with a time of 39:25 in the boys 13-15 years old class after losing his way in the bike portion. Caloocan City’s Brent Valelo won the event in 38:45 followed by Calib Barlin (38:58).

Aaliyah Ricci Mataragnon, a favorite for gold, failed to finish the race after she met an accident in the bike portion. According to her father, Ritchie, his daughter was hit by a marshal’s vehicle manning traffic at the national highway in Danao City.

Topping the girls 13-15 years old race  was reigning Alaska Ironkids juniors division champion Nicole Eijansantos of Quezon City (44:57) followed by Everly Everly Janarie Macalalad of Muntinlupa (46:10) and Una Janus Ibayan also from Muntinlupa (46:19).

SPIKERS MARCH

Despite the early setbacks, Cebu City can look forward to the team events where its volleyball squads advanced. The host’s girls volleyball teams showed their fangs at the old Sacred Heart School campus gym by racking two wins.

Southwestern University (SWU) and the University of San Carlos (USC) won 25-6, 20-25, 25-22 and 25-8, 25-19 against Sta. Rosa and Danao City, respectively. The SWU belles are representing the city in the secondary division while USC plays in the elementary class.

Cebu City’s boys volleyball team also beat Mandaue City, 25-17, 25-18 and Davao City, 25-20, 25-16.

But the Niños also suffered tough losses in beach volleyball at the Fort San Pedro beach volleyball court.

Team Cebu City A of Jan Andy Ybanez and Robert Pepito lost to General Santos City in straight sets, 19-21, 18-21 while Team Cebu City B of Cedric James Casas and Jhunmar Pacquiao bowed to Tagum City, 9-21, 10-21.

Meanwhile, in rugby football, Muntinlupa City scored a three-peat after crushing Cebu City, 4-1 while Mandaue City A earned the silver after edging Mandaue City B, 1-0.

This year’s Batang Pinoy National Finals is co-hosted by Cebu City, Mandaue City and Danao City.