Briones, Dolar reign in PNG gymnastics

MANILA, Philippines - Unheralded Joseph Briones and national team mainstay Charmaine Dolar bested their respective rivals to rule the men’s and women’s aerobics gymnastics competitions in the POC-PNC Philippine National Games at the GAP gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex last Monday.

Briones, who won a bronze medal in this event last year, actually scored identical 16.85 points with runner-up Francis Rivera, but took the gold with the better execution of his routine.  

Dolar, on the other hand, emerged the clear winner for the third straight time in the event organized by the PSC and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines with a tally of 21.25 points.

National teammate Lynette Ann Moreno settled for silver (19.175) while Rochelyn Cerda, representing Rizal, took the bronze (16.7) in the event backed by Ayala Corp., Summit Mineral Water Bala Energy Drink, Milo and LBC.

“I was not expecting this, but I’m happy,” said Briones, who coaches the Letran cheering squad.

“Although we lack in training, I’m still glad that I performed well enough to win,” said Dolar, a fourth-year UE BS Education student, who saw action in last year’s world aerobics championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gracing the awards rites were PSC commissioner Akiko Thomson-Guevarra, GAP president Cynthia Carrion and secretary general Bettina Pou.

Meanwhile, action in PNG gymnastics action resumed late yesterday with the all-around event in women’s rhythmic gymnastics with the collated scores in the hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon contests determining the overall champion.

Scheduled this afternoon are the individual competitions for the hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon equipment.

The event takes a break tomorrow with the men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics set Friday and Saturday to be capped by the highly anticipated cheerleading contests on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The annual meet, which gathers the best elite and amateur athletes in the country today, will officially start on Friday with sports spread through the rest of the National Capital Region including centerpiece athletics at the Philsports Track Oval and medal-rich swimming at the Rizal Swimming Center.