CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Niños sizzled in swimming and weightlifting events to haul 12 gold medals combined in Day 4 of the Philippine National Games yesterday in Bacolod City.
As of this writing, Team Cebu City has already accumulated a total of 24 golds, 14 silvers and 27 bronzes. The swimmers got seven golds, athletics and weightlifting contributed five golds apiece, four golds came from karatedo, two golds from gymnastics and one in arnis.
Swimming
Palarong Pambansa gold medallist Michael Ichiro Kong spearheaded Cebu's swimming charge with four golds. The University of Cebu standout lorded it over in the 50m and 100m butterfy and freestyle events in the 12-under category.
TCC head coach Rolando Alvarez said Kong could have ended the two-day competition with a perfect gold in all his events but he was disqualified in the 200 individual medley.
Karen Mae Indaya shared two golds in the 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke and a silver in the 50m backstroke.
The other gold medal was produced by Tara Kyla Ebon in the 10-under 200m IM event. She also added three bronze medals in the 50m and 100m butterfly and 100m breast stroke.
Ebon, along with Trina Caneda, Danielle Mae Ballesteros and Lyh Ann Navaro ended the 4x50m medley relay with a silver medal.
Athletics
Mary Grace de los Santos, Ernesto Banez and Mary Joy Tabal bagged gold medals in their respective events.
Delos Santos dominated the 3,000m steeplechase in 12:14, jumper Ernesto Ybañez beat RP team’s Teodoro Nonato in the men’s triple jump with a distance of 14.97m, while Tabal won the 1,500-meter run.
Judo
Cebu City's Elichi Yahata and Leah Sedoriosa handed over two bronzes in the seniors category. Yahata made it in the 90-kilogram, while Sedoriosa had a third place finish in the 70 kgs.
Tennis
Israel Abarquez booked a championship ticket in the men’s singles after fending off Juvan Divinagracia, 6-1, 6-0.
However, he was not able to make it in the doubles along with partner Kennex Abadia as they bowed to Dheo Talatayod and Leander Lazarom 6-2, 6-4.
In the distaff side, Sally Mae Siso failed to reach the semis in the women’s open after being defeated by RP team member Clarice Patrimonio, 6-3, 6-1. Her teammate, Jeneveb Petecio, also lost to Tamitha Nguyen, 6-2, 6-2. (FREEMAN)