October 23, 2007 | 12:00am
Manila raked in 18 gold medals in gymnastics in the final day to snatch the overall championship from Quezon City at the conclusion of the National Capital Region Qualifying Leg of the second Philippine Olympic Festival at the Rizal Sports Complex.
Arielle Nichole Orella topped the rope, ribbon, clubs, hoops and individual all-around events of rhythmic gymnastics that fuelled the Big City bets’ late surge in ruling the event aimed at discovering future national team members.
Rachelyn Astillar, Mage Wagan and Edmund Ilagan won three gold medals each, Cristina Onofre two and Myla Rodriguez and Aethea Sibayan one apiece with the last golden effort coming from its rhythmic category 2 team.
Manila’s romp at the mat pushed them up from second place with total collection of 65 gold, 52 silver and 52 bronze medals beating Quezon City’s 60-gold, 42-silver and 30-bronze harvest in this event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, The Philippine STAR, Globe, Accel, Asia Brewery, Negros Navigation, AMA Computer College and Creativity Lounge.
Manila also ruled the centerpiece athletics event with a 20-gold medal haul and archery where it scooped up 14 mints before dominating the mat that propelled it to the top.
Nino dela Cruz, who chairs the Manila Sports Council, received the champion’s trophy in simple closing rites at the Rizal Track Oval.
Manila will also host the NCR leg of the third POF set next year.
Pasig finished third overall with 35-14-8 tally followed by Muntinlupa at fourth spot with 22-15-12 while rounding up the top 10 were Parañaque (20-15-17), Marikina (19-24-30), Taguig (18-17-26), Mandaluyong (17-12-9), Las Piñas (12-28-12) and Makati (6-9-5).
Quezon City, whose participation in this event was bankrolled by its Mayor Sonny Belmonte was leading hours before closing but was dislodged by Manila when the gymnastics results came in.
Meanwhile, the POF goes to Naga City, Camarines Sur as the Bicol and Southern Tagalog Qualifying Games unfolds tomorrow.
