Herranz, Bondad, Sta. Maria sparkle

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Eleven-year-old Arianna Herranz twinkled in the pool, bringing her gold medal collection to six with two more eye-popping wins as Laguna sustained its pace in the National Championships of the third Philippine Olympic Festival at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Complex here yesterday.

Herranz, who ruled the 100m and 800m free, 100m back and 400m IM Friday, added the 50m free and 200m back, keepingLaguna in the overall lead with a 17-gold, five-silver and 11-bronze medals’ haul.

Catherine Bondad, 10, also had four gold medals for Laguna, ruling the 50m and 200m free, 100m back and 200m IM in a mighty show by the Bicol and Southern Luzon Qualifying Games champions.

Former Palarong Pambansa multi-gold medalist Banjo Barjo, 16, took his fourth gold in the 200m back, Joshua Casino topped the 200m IM while Laguna’s 200m freestyle relay boys team also bested the field to account for nine of the 10 gold medals in Day 3.

Ira Marie Hernandez accounted for Laguna’s other gold medal outside of the pool as he ruled the discus throw in 29.63 meters.

The six-day meet, organized by the POF chaired by Robert Aventajado and Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno, also serves as the Philippine Olympic Committee’s talent identification and sports development program.

With three days remaining, Laguna is on its way to surpassing its third place finish behind overall champion Manila and runner-up Quezon City in last year’s edition of the event held in Manila.

Quezon City’s Rafael Sta. Maria and Las Pinas’ Fahad Al-Khaldi also stood out in the event backed by Globe, Pagcor, Philippine Sports Commission, AMA Computer University, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Accel, Negros Navigation, Creativity Lounge and The Philippine STAR.

Sta. Maria, an 11-year-old student at La Salle-Greenhills, posted Triple A times in 50m and 100 freestyle, 100m and 200m back, 100m breaststroke and 200m IM while Al-Khaldi, the 13-year-old brother of Palarong Pambansa sensation Jasmine, won the 50m, 100m and 15000m free, 100m and 200m back and 200m IM events.

Triple A times are the standards used by the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association in determining the athletes’ potential based on the standards set by the International Swimming Federation.

In basketball, Lanao del Norte, composed of athletes from conflict areas in the remote parts of the province, trounced Davao del Norte, 70-58, while Cayagan Valley, the Northern Luzon Qualifier winner, broke the hearts of the partisan crowd as it outlasted host Cagayan de Oro, 86-83, for its second straight victory.

In softball, Quezon City, represented by University of the Philippines, shut out Cagayan de Oro, 7-0, to seize the solo lead with a 2-0 (win-loss) record.

Over at Camp Evangelista grounds, host Misamis Oriental walloped Lanao del Norte, 14-2, and Cagayan de Oro beat Northern Mindanao, 14-1, to share the lead in baseball.

In volleyball, Tawi Tawi slammed Ilocos Norte, 25-17, 25-19, while Davao del Norte defeated Valencia, Bukidnon, 25-17, 25-19.

Tawi Tawi and Davao del Norte later overpowered Misamis Oriental, 25-16, 25-23, and Ilocos Norte, 25-9, 25-12, to post their second straight win.