Little Mermaid from Palawan puts on show

MANILA, Philippines —  Quendy Fernandez of Puerto Princesa delivered a tsunami of a performance as she ruled the women’s 200-meter backstroke yesterday to emerge the first quintuple gold medal winner in the Philippine National Games at the PhilSports swimming pool in Pasig.

From a four-gold haul in the first two days, the 18-year-old University of the Philippines star splashed her way to a fifth mint after she clocked two minutes and 29.52 seconds.

It was another spectacular swim for the reigning UAAP Rookie MVP after her victories in the 50m and 100m back, 50m butterfly and 200m medley relay with Maglia Jay Dignadice, Pearl June Daganio and Cindy Fernandez.

She then dedicated her feats to the Palawan Swimming Club coach Toyskie Dalisay.

Lyka Catubig of Davao City claimed her second gold as she reigned supreme in the 5,000m walk where she timed in 19:26.84 in centerpiece athletics in the nearby track oval.

Other track and field winners were the national team’s Junel Sergio Gobotia, (men’s steeplechase) and Evalyn Palabrica (women’s javelin), Naga’s Melquisedec Manto (men’s 5,000m) and Bohol’s Diana Rysiamie Hurano (women’s long jump).

In chess, Dasmariñas’ Kylen Joy Mordido drew with Francois Marie Magpily in the seventh and final round to claim the women’s individual standard gold with 6.5 points.