Tondo boy hauls 3 golds

An out-of-school youth emerged as the biggest medal winner in the opening day of the 1st Manila Youth Games yesterday, hauling three gold medals in gymnastics as action in six of the 12 sports disciplines unfolded at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Daniel Padiz, an 11-year-old resident of Molave St. in Tondo, clinched the weeklong event’s first gold medal disputed in the floor exercise by tallying 8.867 points to beat Justine Abie Yanga’s 7.19 and Carlo Constante’s 5.50.

As if it was not enough, Padiz struck anew in the vault category by registering a score of 7.15, once again beating Aurora Elementary School teammates Yanga (6.95) and Constante (6.80).

Padiz clinched his third gold medal for the day in the individual all-around with a total score of 16.01, more than two points ahead of Yanga’s 14.14 and a mile away from Constante’s 12.30.

Based on his performance, Padiz could become the first recipient of a scholarship grant from the organizing Manila Sports Academy, a brainchild of Manila Sports Council head Ali Atienza.

Two gold medals in dancesports will be up for grabs today at the San Andres Sports Complex. Dancesports produced two gold medals for Manila when it won the overall title in last year’s Batang Pinoy in Bacolod City.

In soccer, Don Bosco Tondo A demolished District 10, 12-0, but its second team fell in the hands of Lakandula, 2-3. Don Bosco B defeated Bacolod, 3-2.

The event reserved for athletes aged 12 and below is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, WG&A Super Ferry and Smart with support coming from Peak Taekwondo Equipment, Victor Sports, CURE, Manly Sportswear, Pressworks, Konka TV, Jianshe Motorcycles and PC-One Computers.