MULTI-MEDALIST. Evita Ruth Belloso of Laguna Province shows the five medals she won at the Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy (PYG-BP) Luzon qualifying leg in Ilagan City, Isabela on Saturday (March 23, 2019). (Photo by Jean Malanum)
ILAGAN CITY, ISABELA -- Laguna Province bagged nine more gold medals on Saturday to claim the overall title in the Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy (PYG-BP) Luzon qualifying leg here.
The golds from arnis (5), athletics (2) and badminton (2) gave Laguna a total of 38 gold medals to go with 35 silvers and 36 bronzes it has earned. The province topped the swimming competition with 13 golds, 20 silvers and 12 bronzes.
Baguio City finished second with 36 golds, 47 silvers and 60 bronzes while Quezon City was third with 24 golds, 19 silvers and 11 bronzes in the tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for students and out-of-school youth aged 15 years and below.
Pangasinan ranked fourth with 23 golds, 24 silvers and 26 bronzes followed by Pasig City (22-24-27), Taguig City (19-17-28), Dasmarinas City, Cavite (18-10-15), Dagupan City, Pangasinan (16-12-11), Muntinlupa City (14-8-5) and Makati City (13-8-15).
Sports development officer III Gerardo Cantada, also the Laguna Province head of delegation, said he is happy with their achievement.
"Considering that we only have 140 athletes, I can say that we did very well in this tournament," said Cantada, who credited their success to the province's sports program.
He also noted the full support of Governor Ramil Hernandez.
Baguio City, which won the overall title when it hosted the PYG-BP National Finals last year, has the most number of entries at 358. The City of Pines won 10 golds in taekwondo and nine in archery.
"We did our best," said Baguio City head of delegation Gaudencio Gonzales. "The important thing is to retain the overall title in the National Finals."
Laguna's two golds in athletics were from James Bryle Ballester in the boys 800m and the girls 4x400m relay team of Janine Dauba, Evita Ruth Belloso, Kyla Elona and Magvrylle Chrause Matchino.
The 5-foot-6 Belloso, a neophyte in the tournament, had already won the 4x100m relay with the same team. She also got two silvers (100m hurldles and high jump) and a bronze (triple jump).
"Masayang-masaya po ako dahil sa first time ko sumali at naka-limang medals ako. Gusto ko ialay ang mga medalya sa aking mga magulang (I am so happy because this my first time to join and I won five medals. I want to dedicate the medals to my parents)," said the 13-year-old Belloso, a Grade 7 student from Siniloan National High School.
Belloso, the youngest among four siblings, also acknowledged her school's athletics coach, Gerome Serrano, who introduced her to the sport two years ago.
"Maganda po ang naging training sa akin ni coach Gerome. Ginawa ko ang lahat para manalo (I had a good training from coach Gerome. I did my best to win)," added Belloso, who won the 4x400 relay gold and the high jump silver at the 2018 Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, Ilocos Norte.
Badminton player Andrea Princess Hernandez added two golds for Laguna after she won the 13-under girls singles and the doubles with Rosheila Quirez.
In futsal, Naga City won the boys and girls 13-under and girls 15-under titles while Pasig City topped the boys 15-under event.
In volleyball, Sta. Rosa, Laguna downed Tanauan City, Batangas, 2-0, to win the gold medal in the boys division, while Angeles City prevailed over Mandaluyong City, 2-0, in the girls beach volleyball final.
In basketball, Dasmariñas City, Cavite defeated Mariveles, Bataan, 101-97, to win the gold in the boys division, while Pangasinan won the gold over Pasig City, 61-58, in the girls division.
Other winners in badminton were Karl Raphael Contreras of Malolos City (13-under boys singles); Migz Rafael Valimento and Ryan Mendoza of Santa Maria, Bulacan (13-under boys doubles); Patricia de Leon of Taguig City (13-15 girls singles); Angel Valle and Kahrene Ivy Zapanta of Taytay, Rizal (13-15 girls doubles); SanJohn Paul Barandino of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (13-15 boys singles); and Ashton Rudolph Prieto and Raydric Johann Abinales of Mandaluyong City (13-15 boys doubles).
In table tennis, the gold medalists were Kheith Rhynne Cruz of Manila (15-under cadet girls singles) and Red Morrison Torres-Cruz (mixed doubles); Wrency Abad of Vigan City (15-under cadet boys singles); Ray Joshua Lawrence Manlapaz of Makati City (13-under mini-cadet boys singles); and Jan Sanchez of Pangasinan (13-under mini-cadet girls singles). (PNA)
