Cabradilla nails JRU’s first gold

MANILA, Philippines - Jose Rizal University put in motion its four-peat bid in athletics with Domingo Cabradilla delivering the first gold in long jump at the start of the 89th NCAA track and field competitions at the La Salle-Dasmariñas oval in Cavite yesterday.

Cabradilla leapt to 6.89 meters twice, once in the preliminaries and another in his final jump to snare the gold for the Bombers, who have dominated the event the last three seasons.

But Cabradilla needed to edge Perpetual Help’s Patrick Faderogao, who also made 6.89m. in the tiebreak after officials used the wind velocity to break the tie.

Mark Harry Diones, Cabradilla’s teammate, took the bronze with 6.86m.

At presstime, another Jose Rizal bet, John Albert Mantua was going for the discus throw gold he won last year.

Mantua took the MVP honors last year, after setting a record throw of 40.61 meters.

“It’s a nice way to start our campaign,” said Jose Rizal Management Committee representative Paul Supan, also the chair of the organizing committee.

San Sebastian likewise made its presence felt after Rolando Oberas copped the pole vault gold in 3.70 m, besting teammate Raian Espada and Letran’s Jeffrey Fajiculay, who both took the silver after an identical 3.50 m.

Letran’s Rouelo Cordova won the bronze with a 3.40m effort.