Tankers power Manila to overall lead in Day 4

BACOLOD CITY – Manila’s powerful tankers staged the biggest coup as the premier city grabbed the solo lead from Cebu Province yesterday in Day 4 of the third Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the Panaad Sports Complex here.

After an obscure performance Monday, Manila, headed by former taekwondo national team member Ali Atienza who is son of Manila Mayor Lito, redeemed itself by raking in four golds on a day 11 swimming records were erased.

But it was nine-year-old Erika Louise Visitacion of Las Piñas who created the biggest splash when she shattered the old mark of 35.09 seconds by Bea del Mundo of Manila last year with a time of 34.99 in the girls’ 50-m freestyle.

"I was sick before I swam but it did not bother me at all since my concentration is focused on winning," said the petite Visitacion, a third grader from Montessori de Manila in Las Piñas, who idolizes 1991 Manila SEAG multi-gold medalist Akiko Thompson and Sydney Olympics veteran Jenny Guerrero.

Manila’s Heidi Gem Ong erased the girls’ 50-m freestyle (11-12 years old) record of 30.5 by Josephine Pilapil of Palawan in Laguna with a time of 29.06 while teammate Gian Daniel Berino broke his own mark of 37.38 in the boys’ 50-m freestyle (6-and-under), clocking 35.10.

Ma. Anna Arabejo zapped Antonette Valdez’ old mark of 2.42.25 by timing 2:38.24 in the girls’ 200-m individual medley (11-12). Kimberly Uy failed to duplicate her teammates’ feats but her gold medal swim in the girls’ 50-m freestyle (6-and-under) was enough to catapult Manila to the top with a total haul of six gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

But the event for kids 12 years old and below was not without age cheats.

The meet’s jury of appeals, a four-man committee chaired by Ariel Paredes, conducted an investigation into Rizal Province’s alleged violation of eligibility rules. The team later offered to withdraw from the competitions, thus enhancing Manila’s bid for the gold in badminton.

Cebu Province topped the boys’ team event in badminton to hike its total to six gold medals, five of them from karatedo, but it was good only for second spot behind Manila, which had the same gold-silver-tally but had more bronze medals (5). Capiz cornered the gold medal in the girls’ badminton team event.

Rizal made up for its badminton team’s fate by capturing two gold medals in the pool competition.