MANILA, Philippines - John Albert Mantua dominated shot put as Jose Rizal U set in motion its bid for back-to-back title romp in the seniors’ division of the 87th NCAA track and field competition at the Rizal Memorial Track and Field Oval yesterday.
Mantua, a Palarong Pambansa find, made an impressive 13.90-meter throw, besting teammate Eduard Paul Paler (12.45m) and Letran’s Randolph Hernandez (12.14m) for the gold medal.
“We recruited him (Mantua) because we know he’s talented,” said Jojo Posadas in Filipino. “He also worked hard for this.”
Mark Diones also delivered a gold for Jose Rizal as he ruled triple jump in 14.49m, beating brother and teammate Melbert Diones (14.05m) and San Sebastian’s Joemel Vargas (13.83m).
Perpetual Help shared the spotlight as it raked in three gold medals through Mark Philipp Silloco (400m hurdles, Patrick Fadegorao (high jump) and Mark Larry Basa (110m hurdles).
Silloco turned in a 54.86-second clocking, downing Letran’s Joey Molenilla (55.77) and Perpetual teammate Larick Panes (56.67) while Fadegarao jumped to 1.97m for the gold. San Beda’s Christian Delovino took the silver (1.85m) and San Sebastian’s John Arvin Gomez settled for the bronze (1.85m).
Basa, meanwhile, topped the 110m hurdles in 15.17 seconds, defeating teammate Ray Mark Castillo (15.26) and Jose Rizal’s Domingo Cabradilla (15.34).
San Sebastian’s Benjie Abraham came from behind to snatch the javelin gold from Mantua with a heave of 56.34m in his sixth and final attempt.
In the juniors’ division, Emilio Aguinaldo’s Sidney Onwubere took the javelin gold with a 43.08m heave, beating Arellano U’s Jethro Ferwelo (38.70m) and San Sebastian’s Primo Pagadora (38.67m)