Gymnasts eight-gold haul sparks Tondo High surge

Getting a big boost from the pair of Emil Limpio and John Vincent Aproda, Tondo National High School hauled eight gold medals in gymnastics yesterday to jumpstart its campaign in the fourth Manila Youth Games at the Rizal Memorial Complex.

The 13-year-old Limpio made a stirring debut in the games as he spearheaded the Tondo siege by topping the horse vault, all-around individual and floor exercises for 12-15 years old, while Aproda ruled the floor exercises, horse vault and all-around individual competitions in the 15-and-under division.

"First time ko lang po nakasali kaya masaya ako at nanalo agad ako dito," said Limpio, who was introduced to the sport by his father Erindo, a welder.

Erica Jane Pana delivered the other two gold medals for Tondo High School as she reigned supreme in the girls’ individual all-around and balance beam in the artistic category for 13-15 years old.

Tondo hopes to sustain its fine start as it opens its bid in the very sport it is fancied to dominate – football, which starts today at the makeshift field at the Luneta Park.

Barangay Obrero also had a spectacular day at the mat with a five-gold haul while Villegas National High, AC Herrera School, Calderon Elementary School, District I and Perfecto Elementary School had three each.

In baseball, Villegas smothered Manuel Luis Quezon High School, 15-3, at the Rizal ballpark to open its title-retention bid with a bang while Araullo High topped the cheering competition by edging early favorite Jose Abad Santos High and St. Scholastica College.

In dance sports, an event making its debut in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5 here, Ramon Magsaysay’s Rodolfo Ignacio III and Samantha Pineda ruled the standard category while schoolmates Gerard Jeciro and Deimina Tilal lorded it over the Latin side.