Gold medal blackout for Cevees: Host Central Visayas good for only two silvers in Day 1 of Palaro

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  â€“ Host Central Visayas was immediately struck with a gold medal blackout as it could only produce a pair of silver medals at the start of hostilities in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa at the Gov. Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium here yesterday.

Renante Padilla from Cebu’s University of the Visayas fell short of a golden performance as he only placed second in the elementary boys artistic gymnastics, in the same way with his UV teammates Francin Ly Coyoca, Diane Navarro and Eunice Soronio who settled for just silver in team event of elementary women’s artistic gymnastics.

Hopes are bright though for the Cevees to clinch gold medals in athletics competition, with three of their sprinters barging into the final round in 100m run. They are Celina Mae Revalde of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and Enrico Avila and Doysalas Semplecio of Bohol.

In ball games, Central Visayas kicked off its campaign on a bright note, with its secondary boys basketball team whipping Central Luzon, 87-53, at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center.

In secondary football, the Cevees also made a rousing start courtesy of a 3-0 thrashing of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at the Silliman University (SU)) field.

Central Visayas also had an auspicious debut in tables tennis, softball and volleyball events.

 â€œEven if we didn’t get medals yet, we are still hopeful for our chance to win gold medals in the days to come,” said Central Visayas Sports Council Executive Secretary Vivian Giñete.

“We are aiming for a third place finish this time and our kids are showing good signs especially in the ball games. We will surely bounce back,” added Giñete.

At the Robinson’s Place atrium, the host region also sent three boxers into the medal round namely John Antique (34 kgs.), Clint Gersale (40 kgs.) and Kitceron Garces (46 kgs.).

On the other hand, Western Visayas' Jerremay Rubias and Renzy John Gemolaga and the National Capital Region's Jan Resty Lorenzo shone the earliest as they came through with the first gold medals in the week-long athletic meet.

Rubias, 15, emerged with the games' first golden effort after she reigned supreme in secondary girls javelin throw where she heaved 39.59 meters, besting Caraga's Rizalyn Apos and Cagayan Valley's Jovelyn Notario, who threw 37.89m and 36.05m for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Gemolaga, 17, gave Western Visayas their second mint, saving the best for last with a sixth and final heave of 13.65 to cop the shotput gold and edging Central Luzon's Bryan Jay Pacheco (13.37m) and NCR's Garry Santiago (13.36m).

Lorenzo, 15, on the other hand, opened the bid of the Big City bets, who are aiming to continue its reign in the secondary general championship, with a bang by topping the secondary boys long jump in 6.66m and trouncing Bicol's Rafael Bueno (6.55m) and Davao's Lord John Roilo (6.52m). (FREEMAN)