Fil-Arab tanker cops 5 golds

NAGA CITY — Jasmine Al-Khaldi of the National Capital Region completed a sterling performance on the pool when she emerged the first five-gold winner in the elementary division of the 2006 Palarong Pambansa at the Metro Naga Sports Center here.

With impressive outings the past two days that led to four golds and two record feats, Al-Khaldi splashed her way to another golden finish as she clocked a minute 9.90 seconds to shatter Katherine Velez’ six-year-old 100-meter butterfly mark by a less than two seconds.

And she made the feat by thwarting Davao lass Anna Celina Gonzales, who led by a meter going into the final 50 meters but had to settle for the silver in 1:10.14.

"I’m very happy," said the pretty 17-year-old Fil-Arab from the International Christian Academy.

Al-Khaldi, whose other wins came in 100-m freestyle, 4x100-m medley relay, 4x50-m medley relay and 50-m butterfly, will go for two more golds as she competes in today’s 50-m freestyle and 200-m individual medley.

Another NCR bet, Dorothy Grace Hong, took her fourth gold in the 50m backstroke where she timed in 32.62 seconds to better her own mark she set in Iloilo City last year by just nine-tenths of a second.

The Big City bets likewise showed the way in secondary swimming after it swept three gold medals courtesy of Maxim Quilala (200-m backstroke), Matthew Tano (100-m butterfly) and the 4x50-m freestyle relay team of Carmina Quilala, Lianne Ramos, Althea Alcantara and Patricia Yam to hike their total to seven with a day to go in the meet.

Over at the Ateneo de Naga Covered court, NCR drew three gold medals from taekwondo through finweight Jyra Marie Lizardo, featherweight Carla Jane Alava and welterweight Marifi Violeta Gadit.

NCR’s elementary squad, for its part, had four courtesy of Regine Emee Lumbo, Kim Alexis Garcia, James Edward Cruz and Josh Emmanuel Ong.

Cordillera Autonomous Region, on the other hand, ruled the boys’ side with wins by Roff Gagulijas, Billy Joe Soria and Jheramil Soriano.

Meanwhile, Janet Bermas of Calabarzon shoots for her fifth gold medal in the team event of archery at the Camarines Sur National High School field.

Earlier, Richard Maulion of Calabarzon and Lea Casilihan of NCR showed the way in centerpiece athletics by topping their respective events.

Maulion, a 12-year-old Quezon lass who topped both the long and triple jump, ruled the elementary 110-meter hurdles in 16.3 to make it a triple gold haul while Casilihan triumphed in the 100-m hurdles in 16.1 seconds.

But the day belonged to local bet Angeline Pancilis, who came roaring back from a disappointing fifth place finish in the century dash to snare the 200m gold over fancied rivals from Western Visayas.

Pancilis, an 11-year-old native of Libaman, Camarines Sur, hit the tape at 1:03.20, besting 400m gold medal winner Narciso Gwendolyn and Marjorie Laguna of Western Visayas, who settled for silver and bronze, respectively.

"I did not expect to win, I just gave it my best," said a shy, petite Pancilis, fifth of six children of a vegetable vendor, in Filipino.

It was the host region’s third gold at the track with the first two coming from Aiza Rosero (secondary javelin) and Emmanuel delos Angeles (secondary long jump).

Larina Decena of Southern Tagalog captured the century dash gold in 17.3 seconds. Jan Mar Maligo and Jeffrey delos Santos gave Mimaropa a gold apiece in elementary 400m and discus throw.

Caraga finally struck gold, thanks to Ephraim Pagaran in secondary 400-m run.

The morning events in athletics, basketball, sepak takraw and volleyball have been moved to other venues when heavy rains caused by Tropical Depression "Caloy" that hit parts of Samar and Bicol and rendered the venue unplayable.

In lawn tennis, brothers Paul Noel and Ryan Noel Polero trounced Bernardino Siso and John Arnel Go to snatch the elementary doubles gold.

Basketball, meanwhile, will be played at the Ateneo de Naga covered gym with defending champion NCR and last year’s losing finalist Western Visayas shooting for semifinal slots.

The Big City dribblers battle Central Visayas while the Western Visayas takes on Central Luzon in the final quarterfinal games. Other matches pit Northern Mindanao against host Bicol and Davao versus Caraga.

The semifinals of all ballgames are set today while the finals tomorrow.