Davao, Iligan sizzle in judo, swim

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Davao followed up its badminton victory with a six-gold sweep in judo while Iligan drowned the opposition in swimming as the two cities started to flex their muscles in the second Mindanao Friendship Games at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center here yesterday.

Wenah Barrios of Agusan del Sur and Leopoldo Andie of Misamis Oriental did record-breaking performances in athletics in the second day of action marred by an ugly scuffle between Davao City and Misamis Oriental women’s cagers.

Barrios, 18, won the women’s javelin throw in 35.67 meters, breaking the 27.74 mark of Jonalyn Pedrita of Tangub City last year. Andie matched Barrios’ feat by setting a new mark in men’s discus throw (39.42m).

Iligan tankers did their own record-breaking spree in dominating the swimming event.

Genevie Natinga, Monique Bacolod and Nikko Michu Cao Hook stood out among the Iligan swimmers as they combined for 15 golds medals in the first two days of competitions. The three cornered six of the 12 golds contested Monday.

Natinga, a 17-year-old nursing student at Iligan Medical Center who had also made a mark in the Palarong Pambansa and the Philippine National Games, added the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and the 50m free relay to her collection of golds following victories in 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and 200m individual medley Monday.

Bacolod, a 13-year-old La Salle-Iligan high schooler, and Cao Hook, a 17-year-old Atenean, won two apiece yesterday with the former topping the 200m backstroke and the 400m IM and the latter ruling also the 400m IM and the 200m butterfly.

Six new records were established Monday with Izah Sueno of Koronadal winning the women’s 200m freestyle in 2:28.63, Norton Alamara of Cagayan de Oro the men’s 50m breast in 31.68 and the 100m backstroke in 1:07.00, Bacolod the women’s 50m backstroke in 33.81, Cao Hook the men’s 200m fly in 2:21.72 and Natinga the 200 IM in 2:42.84.

Official clockings in yesterday’s event were not yet ready at presstime.

Davao City proved to be unbeatable in judo, sweeping the six golds at stake with Analyn Patindol stamping her class in women’s heavyweight, Ruth Dugadaga in half-heavyweight, Jennifer Ong in middleweight, Allen Delampagos in men’s heavyweight, Oliver Golosino in halfheavyweight and Therdie Escovilla in middleweight.

Gleen Baron and Rochi Mata gave the hometown crowd something to crow about as they took the top of the podium in arnis.

Baron repulsed Misamis Oriental’s Maricar Serad in the extra lightweight championship while Mata whipped Catherine Ballenas of Tacurong City in the middleweight final.

Zamboanga City broke Cagayan de Oro’s stranglehold of arnis with Artie Casten winning the men’s middleweight gold, Cagayan de Oro’s Roderick Minister settled for the bronze.

In basketball, it was Iligan City over Zamboanga del Sur, 70-62, and Surigao del Norte over Kidapawan, 94-71. Tagum City blanked Lanao del Norte, 8-0, in baseball.