PODIUM FINISHERS. Medalists in the arnis competition of the 1st Philippine Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Games Mindanao leg prepare for the awarding ceremony at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) Gym in Zamboanga City on Friday (Sept. 1, 2023). The gold medalists in each event earn automatic slots in the National Championships. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Sports Commission)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Three cadets from the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology won gold medals in arnis full-contact padded stick competition of the 1st Philippine Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Games Mindanao leg at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) Gym here on Friday.
Joseph Falcasantos (men's featherweight), Elijah Yuan Sanchez (men's welterweight) and Nayka Marie Acoyado (women's lightweight) -- all competing in the Philippine Navy category -- have earned slots in the National Championships.
Other winners were Jay Mark Datahan (men's lightweight), Via Mea Mejias (women's featherweight) and Angelfe Mosendo (women's welterweight) of Davao del Norte State College.
In the Philippine Army category, the winners were Kent Declard Lagoy (men's welterweight) and Gian Llanos (women's featherweight) of JH Cerilles State College; Francisco Carballo Jr. (men's featherweight) and Ivy Jane Fernandez (women's lightweight) of Intao Community College; and Walter Sam Jr. of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.
Champions in the Philippine Air Force category were Western Mindanao State University students Clarence Ronolo (men's featherweight), Laurence Pineda (men's welterweight), Bernalyn Jhoy Nicdao (women's featherweight), Sarah Graciano (women's lightweight) and Arabella Marquez (women's welterweight).
The Philippine ROTC Games is a collaboration of the Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education and Department of National Defense.
The next leg will be the Luzon regional qualifying scheduled from Sept. 17 to 23 at the Cavite State University main campus in Indang, Cavite to be followed by the National Capital Region leg and the National Championships. (PNA)
