Karatekas hand Cebu 5 golds

BACOLOD CITY — Cebu province struck for five gold medals in karatedo as it charged into the lead yesterday after Day 2 in the third Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the Talisay Sports and Cultural Center.

Janessa Vergara delivered two of the province’s four gold medals late Sunday in the venue 7.3 kilometers away from here with impressive victories in the kata for girls 8 to 10 years old and the kumite for 10-year-old girls.

Participating for the first time after taking up the sport two years ago with the Baseline Karate Club in Cebu City, Vergara’s feat inspired teammates Lovely Valesa (kata girls’s 12 years old) and James Montesclaros (kata boys’ 12 years old) to win a gold medal apiece.

"Nagulat ako sa panalong ito, hindi ko inaasahan dahil ang punta ko lang dito ay upang makapaglaro at makakuha ng experience," said the nine-year-old Vergara.

But it was Adela Mabala’s victory over local lass Lelly Esson yesterday that catapulted Cebu province to the top with five gold medals, the same day Zamboanga City made its move in the event.

Unfazed by boisterous Talisay City crowd that came in full force to cheer for local bets, Mabala, a first timer herself, reaped the fruits of a long and tedious preparation by beating Esso in style.

Zamboanga got its two gold medals from Angelo Fernandez, who defeated Rexor Romaquin of Cotabato province in the kumite-boys (nine years old), and Jona Marie Galvez, who downed Juvilyn Bardiaga of Santiago City in the kumite-girls (nine years old).

Cebu province’s performance in karatedo pushed them closer of either tying or surpassing its seven-gold medal haul in the last staging of the meet, participated in by 4,400 athletes from 71 local sports councils nationwide, in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Like Zamboanga City, Zambales also had two gold medals courtesy of Gian Paolo Navor, who topped the boys’ kata and kumite events for eight-year-old boys.

Navor’s win ensured a better finish for the Zambales delegation which won onlya bronze in Laguna the last time out and ended up 57th overall.

Making a fitting follow-up to its first gold medal in athletics was Bacolod City’s Joesa Mae Duran, who outclassed Remelyn Fuentes of neighboring Iloilo in the kumite-girls (eight years old). Rommel Fuene handed the host city’s first gold via a record breaking win in the boys’ shotput.

Other gold medal winners in karatedo were Alexandria Anacan of Rizal, George Segundo Jr. of Baguio City and Jonathan Sotto of Nueva Ecija.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City’s Special Education team garnered 14 gold medals to beat Cadiz-SPED squad’s seven gold medals in the special one-day side event for the differently-abled children.