FRONTRUNNER. Medal winners from Muntinlupa City pose during the awarding ceremony of the Batang Pinoy National Championships at the Olympia Community Center in Makati City on Tuesday (Dec. 19, 2023). Muntinlupa City leads the medal tally board with 10 golds and seven bronzes. (Photo taken from Muntinlupa Judo Academy Facebook account)
MANILA – Muntinlupa City collected 10 gold medals in judo to lead the medals tally board in the Batang Pinoy National Games on Tuesday.
Miguel Tecson (boys -38kg.), Jhona Faith Duata (girls -40kg.), Isaiah Xavier Zane Miguel (boys -46kg.), Sophia Nicole Novino (girls -48kg.) and Samara Nina Vidor (girls -57kg.) won in the juvenile 12-14 years old division of the competition at the Olympia Community Complex in Makati City.
Other winners were siblings Erin Unice Nina Nacida (girls -28kg.) and Darline Bella Nina Nacida (girls -44kg.), King Matthew Villagonza (boys -38kg.), Prince Generous Parungao (boys -42kg.) and Samiro Oneal Vidor (boys -46kg.) in the 9-11 years old division.
Muntinlupa City also bagged seven bronze medals coming from John Christine Labrador and Axel Casey Carlos (boys -38kg.); Rhain Franchesca dela Cruz (girls -44kg.), Mark Lincoln Arnais (boys -50kg.), Franchesca Nicole Morales (girls -52kg.) and Sam Daniel Guevarra (boys -78kg.) in the juvenile 12-14 years old division; and Jonas Estreellado (boys -30kg.) in the 9-11 years old division.
Quezon City ranked second with six golds, two silvers, and five bronzes.
Cyclists Jhaykarl Ophor Nuaez (boys criterium 13-Under) and Maria Louisse Criselle Alejado (girls criterium 14-15 years old); karateka Trixie Lazares (girls individual kata 8-9 years old); swimmer Sophia Rose Garra (girls 8-12 years old 200m Individual Medley and 12-Under 50m backstroke); and taekwondo jin Gian Carlo Fernandez (kyorugi junior male light heavyweight) delivered the gold medals while judoka John Marwell Arcilla (juvenile 12-14 years old boys -38kg.) and taekwondo jin Renzie Ann Gamueda (kyorugi cadet female 3rd category) secured the silver medals.
The bronze medalists were karateka John Drake Mabazza (individual kata intermediate male 8-9 years old); swimmer Jared Ishey Cuison (boys 16-17 years old 200m Individual Medley); judoka Paul Jairus Alberto (boys -46kg. 9-11 years old); and taekwondo jins Max Domingo Favila (kyorugi junior male middleweight) and Zoe Ellize Pascual (kyorugi cadet female 1st category).
Zamboanga City is in third with six gold medals, including five coming from the weightlifting competition at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center's Dacudao court inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, and two silvers.
Grapes Elizabeth Tarro, Christian Emmanuel Diaz, Generosmel Cortez Jr., John Carlo Lozada, and Adrian Bucol secured the gold medals while Paul Jake Bitong and Cydrelle Jay Andalahao took the silver medals in weightlifting.
Karateka Kean Xandrey Reyes (individual kata advanced male 12-13 years old) bagged the other gold medal.
Pasig City is fourth with five golds, seven silvers and nine bronzes followed by Baguio City (5-4-14), Manila (4-6-5), Bacolod City (4-2-1), Navotas City (3-7-5), Davao City (3-5-4), and Cebu City (3-4-4).
Most bemedalled
Pasig City’s Arvin Naeem Taguinota II emerged as the most bemedalled thus far after clinching three gold medals in the Batang Pinoy swimming competition at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Pool.
After securing a gold on the opening day, Taguinota continued to shine by dominating the Boys 12 & Under 50m backstroke with an impressive time of 31.15 seconds and the Boys 12 & Under 100m Backstroke, completing it in 1 minute and 05.63 seconds.
This remarkable 12-year-old swimmer, honored as the Best Swimmer in a recent age-group competition in Dubai, earned his first gold in the Boys’ 8-12 years old 200m Individual Medley, outclassing over a hundred competitors in a Best Time finals swimming format.
Taguinota had recently showcased his talent at the Emirates International Swimming Championships in Dubai, where he secured six gold medals in various events, including the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstrokes, 200 Individual Medley, and 50m and 100m free events. He was awarded the Best Swimmer among more than 1,000 swimmers, primarily from the Middle East Asia.
In boxing, the Carlo Paalam-coached Cagayan de Oro squad maintained a perfect record, with all 10 boxers advancing to the next round at the Rafael Palma School in Manila. Paalam, a silver medalist in the 2022 Tokyo Olympics and a proud product of Batang Pinoy, continues to contribute to the success of the team.
A total of 18,000 athletes from 193 local government units are participating in the 25 sports featured in the Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games organized by the Philippine Sports Commission, headed by Richard Bachmann. (PNA)
