Gymnasts and archers power CV to fourth in overall ranking

DAPITAN CITY, Philippines  –The multiple gold medals hauled by the Dumaguete City archers, Marie Crizabelle Merto and Julian Sebastian Teves and gymnast Mary Carmelli Garovillo powered Central Visayas to the fourth spot overall after four days of the 54th Palarong Pambansa here with a 13-gold haul yesterday and late the other day.

Six of the golds came from the gymnasts, five from archery, and one apiece came from swimming and athletics.

National Capital Region (NCR) occupies the top spot followed by Calabarzon and Western Visayas at second and third place, respectively.

Archery

After securing four gold medals the other day, the multi-awarded Merto from Silliman University secured another gold in the Olympic round with 108 points.

The 16-year old archer is hoping that she could get her last gold in the team event today at the ZN Sports Complex Archery Range.

Motivated by a gift from his mother, a bow worth P120,000, Julian Sebastian Teves, improved did even much better this year than last year as he contributed three golds and two silvers.

The 14-year old Teves, who is also from Silliman University, dominated the 40M, 50M and FITA. He got silver finishes in the 60M and Olympic round.

“I practiced more because I wanted to show them that I’m deserving of the win. I believe that it’s my height and my equipment helped me win all these golds. I invested for the Palaro, because my mom promised me if I will do good, she will buy me a bow, which I am using now,” said Teves, who only won one gold and a silver last year.

Nino Abiele Montejo from Talisay City Science High School contributed one gold in the 60M distance category and three bronzes in the 40M, 50M and FITA.

Gymnastics

Interestingly, despite a left ankle injury, the well-decorated Garovillo bagged five gold medals and a bronze yesterday in the secondary girls rhythmic gymnastics event at the Polanco Municipal Gymnasium.

She wowed the adjudicators and the crowd in the hoop, ball, ribbon, individual all-around and in the team event along with Tracy Badonio and Karen Velez from the University of the Visayas.

Garovillo’s injury was caused when she accidentally landed on an uneven mat during her first finals in the rope, reason why she only got a bronze finish in the said event.

However, with a never-say-die attitude, the injury seemed motivated her to excel more as she grittily said that she will still be performing in the rest of the events, where she eventually swept all the gold medals.

“After the injury, I made it a point not to be discouraged and when my father asked me if I can still make it, I answered ‘yes’, because I really wanted to earn more gold medals not only for myself but for the region as well. While I’m performing I was thinking about the injury but I kept in mind to perform well. Fortunately, I was able to make it,” said Garovillo.

Jimi Campomanes contributed a gold in the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics individual all around. And they ended with a silver medal in the team competition with Heiro John Concepcion and Janrie Moga.

Swimming

At the JRMSU aquatic center, Michael Ichiro Kong from FBC Christian School made the first Palaro gold and the first ever golden finish in the swimming event for Central Visayas as he reigned supreme in the 50M butterfly event in the boys’ elementary division.

“I’m happy that I got a gold medal because last year I just ranked sixth. This is my second and last Palaro since I will be in high school this coming June, that’s why I’m trying my best to have a good performance,” said Kong.

They got another bronze medal in the 4x50m freestyle relay. Kong will try to get more golds in the 50M freestyle and in the 4x100 free relay.

Athletics

Over at the Jose Rizal Memorial State University Sports Complex track oval, Anfornie Lopena bagged CV’s second gold in athletics after lording it over in the 400M secondary boys event.

CV’s first gold medalist, Kit Vincent Pelletro added another bronze medal in the 100-meter dash.

Table Tennis

CV paddlers, Lemuel Agbon, Jean Philippe Honoridez, Val Stephen Jaca and Dannel Jay Tormis contributed silver medals for Region VII in the secondary boys table tennis team event after bowing to Western Visayas yesterday at the Zanorte Teacher’s Gym.

Sepak takraw

The CV bets ended with a bronze medal after trouncing region IX in the battle for third place of the inter-team competition of the sepak takraw event at the Pinan Municipal Gymnasium. They will try to earn more medals as they fight in the team regu competition today.

Football

Over at the Barcelona National High School, the CV elementary boys booters entered the semi-finals after winning against their tough rival, Region IV-B, via goal difference during the quarterfinals, which ended with a draw, 2-2, but CV got semis ticket via a plus 14 goal difference.

The Mario Ceniza-mentored squad will face Western Visayas in the semi-finals today.

Lawn tennis

In her last Palarong Pambansa, Sally Mae Siso along with her teammate and best friend, Hanna Espinosa, booked championship tickets after thrashing Crissabel and Cristabel Paulino of Region 3, 8-4, in the girls secondary doubles semi-finals. They will face Region 12 today in the championship at the Dakak Tennis Court.

In the men’s bracket, Dan Cinco and Janel Troy Pintor also experienced the same fate as they beat Cotabato netters in the semis. They will face Kiko Alcantara and Al Michael Madreo from Region 10 in the finals.

Volleyball

The Central Visayas secondary boys and girls volleyball squads booked their respective semi-final tickets after thrashing their respective quarterfinal opponents at the Dapitan City National High School volleyball courts.

The University of Southern Philippines Foundation-manned boys team overpowered Calabarzon region in straight sets, 25-20, 25-16. They will face Western Visayas today in the semis.

In the distaff side, the University of San Jose-Recoletos belles outclassed CAR region in dominating fashion, 25-19, 25-10 and will try to secure a championship ticket as they clash against the equally-tough National Capital Region in their semi-final battle.

Basketball

The CV elementary boys basketball squad also secured semi-final ticket after fending off Calabarzon, 60-49, and they will face NCR in the semis. (FREEMAN)