BACOLOD CITY , Philippines – Athletes from Quezon City emerged as the most bemedalled delegation in the just-concluded Batang Pinoy National Finals in different venues here.
Quezon City bets collected 29 gold medals on various fronts, along with 22 silvers and 19 bronzes, to top the medal table among 128 local government units that fielded bets to the multi-event competition for 15-and-under athletes.
Swimming became a gold mine for QC as its tankers harvested 14 mints, 11 silvers and 11 bronzes in the pool, bannered by triple gold medalists Philip Joaquin Santos, Joshua Taleon, Kirsten Chloe Daos and Raissa Gavino.
It also reigned on the mat, winning eight diadems plus six silvers and six bronzes in wrestling.
Finishing behind QC in the overall medal tally were Baguio City with 22-18-10, host province Negros Occidental (19-11-14), Cebu (16-19-19), and Iloilo (13-0-4).
Like Quezon City, Baguio made a killing in swimming, with seven-gold winner Jenkins Lorenzo Labao providing the anchor. Baguio’s tankers turned in a hot 10-5-2 effort in the pool.
Negros struck hard in athletics led by five-time winner Alexis Soqueno, treble titlist Mark John Balajeboco to lay the foundation for its strong showing.
Rounding out the top 10 were Laguna (12-7-6), weightlifting power Zamboanga City (11-13-18), host city Bacolod (8-14-29), Manila (8-4-4) and Pangasinan (7-19-20).
Leyte Sports Academy-Smart, a team of Yolanda survivors, collected 5-2-2, making their mark in track and field, fuelled by Karen Janario’s five-mint, record-breaking performance.
Meanwhile, training in the US under the Sports Visitors Program of the US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the US Embassy to Phl awaits the top performers in the Batang Pinoy’s 3-on-3 basketball hostilities.
The organizing Philippine Sports Commission and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas have taken notice of the performances of the participants and came up with a shortlist of 10 boys and 10 girls, who are up for stint at the Basketball Sports Visitor Program from Mar. 11-24 in Washington DC and another city.
Nominated were cagebelles Valeri Mae Mamaril, Trixie Alison Mamaril and Princess No-or Sison of Pangasinan, Mary Melle Dorliat of Cebu, Lea Ann Villegas of Bataan, Mariel Campasa and Fiona Mikee Gonato of Sta. Rosa, Antonielle Kaye Berduque and Riza Mariz Cenabre of Bacolod and Claire Danes Buhain of Zamboanga.
The boys’ nominees were Jhoen Jeric Corpuz, Edward Algire of Sta. Rosa, Kurt Amores of Cebu, Loms Vincent Marinas and Mark Lester Castillo of Pangasinan, Miguel Ives Corteza, Samjosef Belangel and Errol Pastor of Bacolod, John Carl Luciano of Zamboanga and Czar Ian Cachero of Passi, Iloilo.