Malingin, Bardonio deliver Pad Region 7’s gold medals to 16

PUERTO PRINCESA—Long jumper Stella Maris Malingin and gymnast Jojielyn Tracy Bardonio topped their respective events to bring Central Visayas’ total gold medals to 16 after Day 5 of the 2008 Palarong Pambansa at the Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. Sports Complex.

So far, Central Visayas has collected a total of 55 medals broken down into 16 golds, 25 silvers, and 14 bronzes.

The 12-year-old Malingin made her Palaro debut a memorable one by winning the gold in elementary long jump with a distance of 4.61 meters. She posted the mark during the third of six attempts.

“I really dit not expect to win,” said Malingin, who immediately got a scholarship offer from the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF).

Over at the city’s coliseum,  Bardonio was another source of joy for the Central Visayas contingent.He handed the region’s 16th gold by lording it over in the ribbon apparatus.

Bardonio’s victory came as a surprise as it was Carmelli Garrovillo who was tipped as the early favorite to snatch the gilt.

But Garrovillo seemed a bit off this time and made costly mistakes in the different apparatus. She could only get a silver in the rope and a bronze in the ball.

Still in gymnastics, the elementary girls squad bagged a silver in the artistic side. Noimi Soco also had a silver finish in the individual all-around.

Back at the oval, Dharl Pitogo settled for silver in the secondary 110m hurdles. He clocked in 15.9 seconds, just two ticks behind gold medallist Jose Unson of the National Capital Region (NCR).

Like Pitogo, Jee-Ann Racoma also failed to live up to expectations as she ended with just a bronze in the secondary girls 100m run , even as Angeline Dales got a bronze in the elementary girls discus throw.

At the swimming pool, Loren Dale Echavez lost her winning touch and faltered in her triple-gold bid.  She wound up only second in the 100m butterfly event, clocking in 1:08.24.

On the other hand, Jode-An Guido got two silvers and the same number of bronzes in archery, while Donnie Aguhob and Joshua Sinco donated two bronzes in full contact arnis.