1st Community Children's Games: Talamban jocks set early pace

CEBU – Athletes from Barangay Talamban set the early pace with three golds and a bronze - all from athletics event - in the inaugural edition of the Philippine Sports Commission-backed Children’s Community Games yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Talamban swept the golds in the 4x100m relay. In the boys division, Talamban clocked in one minute and 3.7 seconds to beat Apas, which finished the race in 1:08.20, while its girls counterparts registered the time of one minute and seven seconds to edge out Hipodromo with a 1:10.32 clocking.

Janua Mary Arnado produced Talamban’s third girl after topping the girls shot put event. She heaved the iron ball to a distance of 7.20 meters in her fifth throw out of six attempts.

Mabolo’s John Batiller claimed the fourth gold at stake in athletics via the boys shot put with 6.99m during his second attempt.

Kalubihan, on the other hand, trailed Talamban with two golds courtesy of its table tennis bets. The Kalubihan tabble-paddlers reigned supreme in both the boys and girls team competition, beating Mabolo, 2-1, in the final round.

Kalubihan’s tandem of Jerome and James Impuesto had to go through a rubbermatch before getting past Mabolo’s Christian Mahilum and Paul Locaylocay,11-6,11-1,14-12.

Jeramae Saromines and Abegail Veloso also won their singles matches to hand Mabolo another gold.

Mabolo currently runs third in the overall standings with a gold and three silvers, while Apas momentarily occupied the fourth spot with a silver and a bronze. Hipodromo, Suba and Sambag II shared the fifth position with one bronze each.

In the other action, Suba paced basketball with two wins after beating Kalubihan, 11-6, and Apas, 34-17.

In volleyball, Pit-os led the charge in the boys division with a clean 2-0 slate, while Talamban, Pit-os, Mabolo and Apas scored one win each in the girls side.

Christian Bautista, namesake of the famed RP crooner, got the first medal in badminton with a bronze after bowing to Mabolo’s Mark Mutus.

Mutus will take on either his teammate Julius Tanjay or Pit-os’ Venerio Jumawan in the gold medal match.

During the opening ceremony prior to the games, Philippine Sports Commissioner Fr. Vicente “Vic” L. Uy, SVD encouraged the young participants to be honest in every game and instill discipline within themselves because these are essential values they need if they desire to be amateur and professional athletes someday.

Fr. Uy said the Children’s Games will also be able to unite barangay leaders and foster camaraderie amongst them. That is the main reason why he foresees the event to grow next year although he is egging on the private sector to back him up in this worthy grassroots sports development project. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol with Gabby G. Malagar (THE FREEMAN)