TRIPLE GOLD. University of Baguio Science High School’s Aleca Breanna Dumseng is one of two Baguio athletes to earn three golds in the Batang Pinoy national finals after ruling the 1st set quiang shu/gun shu (long weapon) on Wednesday. Team wushu has so far earned 12 golds aside from winning six silver and two bronze medals. (Photo courtesy of Eleazer Dumseng)
BAGUIO CITY -- Combat sports is once again carrying Baguio’s quest for the overall title, with wushu, muay thai, taekwondo, and judo earning precious mints even in the Batang Pinoy national final in Puerto Princesa, Palawan after three days of action.
Baguio has so far totaled 34 golds after the third day.
Twelve gold medals and still counting are from wushu, muay thai's 10, the four and three of taekwondo and judo, respectively, during their debut on Wednesday, the four mints in archery and last year’s top contributor, wrestling, has so far produced one gold.
Baguio’s haul after day three of competition on Wednesday, unofficially, is 34-25-35 gold-silver-bronze medals.
Wushu proved to be Baguio’s top producer as its sanda players have to prove their mettle yet in today’s finals.
Its graceful side, taolu, ended its run yesterday with two more golds in its treasure box courtesy of veteran Aleca Breanna Dumseng and Andrei Roy Albert who won their third gold in the games.
Dumseng, a 15-year-old Grade 9 University of Baguio Science High School student ruled the first set quang shu/gun shu (long weapon) earlier Wednesday as she now has three golds to show in the tournament for athletes 15-year-old and younger.
She earlier took the first set chang quan and first set jian shu during the second day of competition.
Albert equaled Dumseng’s feat with a win in the boy's side of the first set quang shu/gun shu (long weapon) to go with his victories in first set chang quan and first set dao shu.
Alyna Jo Lomibao equaled Dumseng’s effort with golds in first set nan guan and first set nan do.
Another double gold winner is Hans Lubguban who won in 24 step taiji quan and 32 step taiji jian.
Verah Janea Dulay nearly matched Lubguban’s feat after taking the female side of the 24 step taiji quan but settled for the silver in the 32 step taiji jian.
Carla Stephanie Tilap took first place in the 32 step taiji quan and the silver in the 24 step taiji jian. All in all, the wushu taolu squad had a 12-6-2 production, the most yet for Baguio which started very slow in its title retention bid. That also earned the plum for the team.
Zege Quiambao added a silver in sanlu quan and a bronze in dao shu, while Julius Jesirace Bahay and Isaac Nathaniel Ugay accounted for a silver each in first set nan quan and first set nan dao. Jerrold Busacay had a bronze in dao shu. Ugay added a silver medal in first set nan gun (long weapon).
Taekwondo also started with a bang after taking four gold, three silver and seven bronze medals on the first day of competition.
Mentored by top coaches Arnold Oglayon, Danrey Velo, Gilbert Balancar, Francis Ferolino and world poomsae grand prix bronze medalist Jeordan Dominguez, four golds were won in poomsae Wednesday.
Amman, Jordan Asian taekwondo championship bronze medalist Aesha Kiara Oglayon, daughter of coach Arnold, led Baguio’s onslaught by winning the individual poomsae female cadet then combined with Jonas Sales for the cadet pair.
The trio of Gabriel Ivan Inacay, Zeik Jhay Ceniza and Zeick Tacay topped the team poomsae junior division, while Khyla Guinto, Wyne Montes, and Xyla Alacyang ruled the team cadet division.
The judo squad went into work early as they opened their campaign with a 3-3-5 haul.
Gold winners for the team were Leerenz Tindaan (50 kilograms), Aeon Kim (55 kg) and Wright Lonogan (60 kg).
The muay squad of South East Asian Games gold medalist Edzel Ngina finished their campaign with a 10-4-3 output, even as archery initially shot a 3-1-3 production.
Archery is also proving to be a medal-rich source as it added another gold to bring its haul to 4-5-8 and counting.
Arnis, one of Baguio's top medal producers, has yet to bag a gold after a 2-4 silver-bronze output.
Athletics has two silvers to show, while badminton has one bronze to account.
Baguio City sports coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales said that official result is less “since it takes time to upload daily official results submitted by the 31 sports events.”
Baguio looks to another field day with the debut of judo, today, Thursday. Despite a delayed flight to Puerto Princesa, the team vowed to zeroing in on good performances in the next days as the squad tries to improve the 10-gold output last year.
Baguio is also expected to deliver a bunch of medals in wushu sanda, taekwondo, and wrestling.
Gonzales is also looking at boxing and pencak silat as medal sources in the games. (PNA)
