Cebu - Team Cebu City got its target in swimming, but also took an added gold in judo from the least expected entry in the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival in Cagayan de Oro City yesterday.
After two days of action, TCC now stands with two golds, five silvers and five bronzes.
Judoka Alford Marimon delivered Team Cebu City ’s first official gold as swimmer Anthony Linn Navarro seized a gold and two silvers.
Marimon, a criminology student of the University of Cebu, defeated Zamboanga’s Tracy Agramon in the 73 kgs. final to take home the gold.
The 18-year-old Marimon, who works as a house detective of Elizabeth Mall, surpassed what was expected of him to the delight of their team’s head coach Atty. Vicente Fernandez II.
Marimon’s performance somehow made up for what was expected of the two other Coke and San Miguel Brewery-supported judokas.
Joaquin Fernandez of St.Francis of Assisi School and another UC student settled only for bronze medals.
Fernandez made sure he does not go home empty-handed by outsmarting Louise Philip Flores of Manila in the 55 kgs. semifinals, while Antigua kicked out Davao’s Roy Gracia in the 60 kgs. category.
Over at the pool, TCC got its first gold from Anthony Linn Navarro.
Navarro, a pupil of Cebu Eastern College and honed by Cebu Blue Marlins of coach Rolando Alvarez, topped the 10-under 100m backstroke event.
Navarro, the first POF final qualifier for TCC, also picked up two silvers from the 200m individual medley and the 50m freestyle.
Navarro also powered the mixed 4x50m relay squad to a bronze finish.The other members of the team are Danielle Bischoco, Michael Ichiro Kong and Lyh Ann Navarro.
Kong also won a silver in the 50m butterfly event of the 10-under class, while Dannielle Mae Balesteros wound up with a bronze in the 11-12 100m breaststroke.
Noel Cañeda added two silvers for TCC via the 17-under 100m backstroke and 400m IM events.
In football, TCC’s 15-under team scored its second straight win at the expense of North Cotabato, 3-1. -THE FREEMAN