Visitors upstage Cebuano archers

CEBU, Philippines - As expected, the early favorites ruled while the Cebuanos could only get two golds through the team competition as the highly successful 1st Cebu Archery Open Tournament came to a close yesterday at the Aboitiz Sports Field in Brgy. Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

Olympian Mark Javier edged out Paul Marlon de la Cruz, 107-95, to win the gold in the men’s recurve.

In the distaff side, Palarong Pambansa golden girl Marie Crizabelle defeated her teammate at Silliman University Archery Club, Aprielle de Castro, 77-71.

In the adult compound, another top-caliber archer Earl Yap proved too much to handle for Cebu’s top bet Rosendo “Dondon” Sombrio. Yap got the gold with 111 points as against Sombrio’s 95 points.

In the women’s division, Amaya Paz outclassed her RP teammate Jennifer Chan, an Olympian, 111-104.

No Cebuano managed to take home a gold in the individual event as the three Mandauehon finalists just settled for silvers.

Romeo Betache bowed to Dapitan’s John Mark Lapinig in the recurve cadet boys, 91-84, while Myla Agus fell prey to Misco’s Bianca Gutuaco, 106-85, in the bowman girls class. RJ Luarez also faltered at the hands of Chrisha Mae Merto, 114-98, in the novice girls class.

Liloan’s Harold Keith Magdadaro was not lucky as well against Gandiva’s Celeandro Antonio Lujero, 110-98, in the novice boys.

The top performers in the other categories were Jose Ferdinand Adriano of SUDAC (junior men), Shinitte Tingas of SUDAC (junior women), Monarc’s Monah Agustin Laurente (cadet girls), and AIM-X’s Luis Gabriel Moreno (bowman boys).

Those who delivered bronze medals for Cebu were Talisay’s Nino Abielle Montejo in cadet boys, Liloan’s Kathleen Joyce Castro in bowman girls, Christina Kaye Wagas in novice girls, Mandaue’s Christian Malazarte in the novice boys and Cebu Technological University’s Cathyrine Batayola in the women’s adult recurve.

Had it not been for the aid of Olympian Jennifer Chan and another national team member Karl Achacoso, host Cebu’s bid in the team Olympic round under the adult compound at 70 meters would have been very difficult for Dondon Sobrio.

Sombrio, Chan and Achacoso put their acts together to beat Amaya Paz, Fermin Barrenechea and Enrique Coquanco of IPK-2, 213-211.

Team Mandaue got the bronze behind the efforts of Edwin Tubo, Alfred Lim and Stewart Shur.

Mandaue's younger counterparts Romeo Betache, Cleven Lacno and Jimmy Pregon won the cadet 50m event after outsmarting Gothong’s Churt Lozano, Emmanuel Beltran and Nico Garcia.

Liloan got a bronze in the team competition via the bowman 30m action.

Olympian Mark Javier left Cebu with a double gold after leading AIM-X in the adult recurve at the 70-meter mark. Javier played alongside Paul Marton Dela Cruz and Art Vidad.

The junior 70m team gold went to SUDAC Jr. KGJ snatched the bowman 30m title, while Team Mixer took away the gold in the novice 10m action. – THE FREEMAN