Escallona notches 2 rowing golds; RTU IX blasts ILLAM

MANILA, Philippines - Janeth Escallona, bidding to make it back to the national squad, paddled her way to a pair of gold medals in canoe-kayak at the Manila Bay as the Philippine National Games officially got under way yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium yesterday.

Escallona, 27, topped the 5,000m touring kayak in 30 minutes, 25.14 seconds then teamed up with Edgar Galang in snaring her second gold in the dragon boat tandem kayak event in 35:14.89.

Rosalyn Esguerra (31:27.95) and Leonita Banlat (34:28.11) took the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the touring kayak event.

The Balete, Batangas native said she hopes her twin victories will help her regain a spot in the national team.

“I’m hoping and praying to make it back to the national team, I hope these wins help me accomplish it,” said Escallona, who works as a utility at the PSC after failing to finish her marketing course at the Rizal Technological U due to motherhood.

That also forced Escallona, a gold medal winner in the 2004 Southeast Asian Championship, to give up her spot in the national canoe-kayak team.

“I had a hard time focusing on the training back then because I got pregnant and it’s really hard to concentrate in training anymore after I became a mother. This time, however, I’m confident I can make it back (to the team),” she said.

With her impressive feat and determination, national team coach Len Escollante virtually welcomed Escallona back into the national team fold.

“With her (Escallona) two gold medals and if she keeps it up, I think there’s no reason that she wouldn’t be accepted back,” said Escollante. 

Over at the Rizal Memorial diamond, Rizal Technological U slammed ILLAM, 10-3, and National U, runner-up in the last UAAP season, blanked Titans, 6-0, to jumpstart their gold medal bids.

In women’s artistic gymnastics, US-based Ava Verdeflor ruled the juniors’ individual all-around event with 50.575 points, besting Manila’s Rachell Arellano (41.700) and Muntinlupa’s Sophia Gonzales (37.375).

Cristina Onofre amassed 38.125 to take the seniors individual all-around meet ahead of Quezon City’s Mariya Antonio with 35.550.

PSC chair Richie Garcia and Phl Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. officially declared the Games open during elaborate rites at the NAS last night.                                  â€“