Hunt for medals on as Palaro action shifts into higher gear

CEBU, Philippines — Some ball games have already started yesterday but action in the 64th Palarong Pambansa goes full blast today yet (Thursday, July 11) with a deluge of medals up for grabs in the centerpiece athletics and swimming events at the newly refurbished Cebu City Sports Center.

A total of 17 gold medals are at stake on the first day of track and field competition, while 24 gilts will be fished out by the tankers at the CCSC’s Olympic-size Aquatic Center that boasts of state-of-the-art amenities.

The first gold medalist of the week-long sports conclave featuring the best grade school student-athletes across the archipelago is expected to come from the secondary girls’ 3,000-meter run.

The 19 competing delegations bannered by perennial champions National Capital Region (NCR) and host Central Visayas (Region VII) are also set to begin their medal harvest in gymnastics, chess, and dancesport, which is now a regular sport in the annual tournament.

In all, 28 disciplines including para games scattered in 30 playing venues are being contested in the multi-event gathering that serves as a breeding ground for the country’s future sports stars.

Aside from the general winners in the elementary and high school divisions, an overall champion per sport will also be declared for the first time in Palaro history.

Meanwhile, host Central Visayas kicked off its campaign with rousing victories in volleyball and football.

At the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) field in Barangay Punta Princesa, the host region’s elementary football team powered by the Bosconian booters under the tutelage of Glenn Ramos blanked the Bicol Region, 4-0.

Anthony James Abarquez broke the ice of the match courtesy of a nifty cross pass from Zachary Fernandez, who himself scored a goal in the second half. Rain Chris Cabanada and Mikhael Lukas Pazon produced the other two goals.

In secondary football, Central Visayas, represented by Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu headed by coach Ref Cuaresma, trounced Ilocos Region, 3-1, at the Fr. Julian Hernando SJ Athletic Field of SHS-Ateneo in Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City.

Marco Ouano, William Barlo, and Nathan Tabon delivered the goods for Central Visayas.

Over at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Basak Campus Gym, the region’s secondary volleybelles fashioned out a come-from-behind victory over CARAGA Region in three sets.

The Central Visayas spikers under the guidance of coach Roldan Potot stumbled in the opening frame, 18-25, but whipped up a courageous fightback to turn back their rivals from CARAGA in the next two sets, 25-15, 25-22 for the win.

It was a nerve-wracking battle in the third set that was accounted for 11 deadlocks before Central Visayas, manned by USJ-R spikers led by Rachel Tecson, nailed three straights points to wrap up the match.