Tankers keep Laguna at helm in POF

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Laguna held sway in the face of General Santos City’s charge in Day 4 of the National Finals of the third Philippine Olympic Festival marred by the forfeiture of games in boys volleyball at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Complex here yesterday.

Arianna Herranz added the 200-meter and 400m freestyle gold medals to her previous six victories while former Palarong Pambansa hotshot Banjo Borja copped the 100m and 200m breaststroke titles to hike his gold medal haul to six as the Southern Tagalog champions sustained their relentless charge at the pool.

The 11-year-old Herranz earlier ruled the 50m, 100m and 800m free, 100m and 200m backstroke and 400m individual medley.

Jasper Casino and Joana Colleen Simbulan topped the 50m butterfly for Laguna, which also raked in 14 gold medals in the day in gymnastics, judo and athletics to underscore its serious bid for the overall crown in the six-day multi-sports meet organized by host Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno and POF chair Robert Aventajado.

Laguna, the Bicol and Southern Tagalog Qualifying Games champion which finished third in last year’s finals behind Manila and Quezon City, shone in artistic gymnastics, track and field and judo with eight, four and two gold medals, respectively, to firm up its hold of the overall lead with 37 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze medals.

But General Santos City, winner of the Mindanao Qualifier in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, overshadowed Laguna in Day 4 by winning 14 golds in gymnastics, seven in swimming and one at the track.

At the end of the day, General Santos moved closer to Laguna with a 29-gold, 20-silver and 16-bronze medal tally.

Lanao del Norte came through with emotional triumphs in gymnastics and basketball in the meet backed by The Philippine STAR, Globe, Pagcor, Philippine Sports Commission, AMA Computer University, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Accel, Negros Navigation and Creativity Lounge.

The lean but mean delegation of Gov. Khalid Dimaporo bucked the odds and drew strength from the four-gold haul by Lornelyn Kadile in the vault, balance beam, floor exercise and all around while its basketball squad edged hosts Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro in the tiebreak to realize a dream finals trip against fancied Cagayan Valley, unbeaten in four games.

Meanwhile, organizers forfeited all the games by Davao del Norte and Misamis Oriental for fielding ineligible players in boys’ volleyball.

Tawi-Tawi overpowered Valencia, Bukidnon, 25-13, 25-23, 25-22, to clinch the gold while Ilocos Norte, headed by Gov. and former Gintong Alay chief Michael Keon, took the bronze by virtue of the forfeitures.

In the girls’ section, Davao del Norte edged Olongapo City, 26-24, 25-22, to advance to the finals.

Precious Valerie Pama led Gen. Santos’ charge at the mat by dominating the vault, balance beam, floor exercise and all around events while Ivan Bagaboyboy won in floor exercise, vault and all-around.

The Dacera siblings – Omar Philip, Lawin and Nikita – ruled the 200m and 400m free in their respective age levels while the team of Omar Philip, Fritz Anos, Ian Cruz and Raphael Facturan topped the 400m free relay event.

Domingo Cabradilla Jr. did 13.36 meters in triple jump, besting Zamboanga City’s Joseph Magsukang and Tangub’s Dwight Clifford Alo, who settled for the silver and bronze medals in 13.29m and 12.81m, respectively.

Zamboanga City, which finished second to General Santos in the Mindanao leg, posted four wins in judo courtesy of Alvin Mendoza (-55 kilograms), Joanna Destora (-45kg), Frederick Tormon (-60kg) and Rica Trumata (-63kg).