Philippine mixed pairs claim podium honors

TAGAYTAY, Philippines – From virtually out of nowhere, rookie Philippine duos struck with a gold and bronze medal in the youth mixed pairs event of  the 10th Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission early yesterday morning here.

Both Palarong Pambansa standouts in the last edition held in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Rhimel Daniel Cabides and Antonette Amante pranced and danced with both dynamism and elegance in securing the gold medal with a score 17.80  points at the modified Tagaytay CT Velodrome.

General Santos natives Rhys Enoch Balmayor and John Mikaela Ladaran gave the country’s second medal in securing third place (17.150) in the meet backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Both pairs made the most of their international debuts in the competition organized by the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines and sanctioned by the Asian Gymnastics Union.

“Napatunayan namin maari kaming makapagsabayan internationally,” said Amante, a triple Palaro gold medalist, who, like Cabides,  is 14 and a Grade 8 Teodoro Alonzo High School student.