Laguna tankers churn for 10 golds

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – Laguna came out victorious in a fierce duel with reigning overall champion Manila at the start of swimming competitions in the fourth PNYG-Batang Pinoy, seizing the lead after the second day of action at the Puerto Princesa Sports Complex here yesterday.

The Laguna tankers scooped 10 gold medals in an impressive display of power that helped the former Batang Pinoy champions surge past Manila and first-day leader Batangas in the medal tally.

Early victories by Ryan Arabejo, Ma. Georgina Gandioco and John Brylle Zapanta set the pace for Laguna in the medal-rich event that drew over 400 participants. A token delegation from Negros Occidental registered but backed out due to reported outbreak of dengue fever in its camp.

Arabejo, 12, ruled the boys’ 11-12 400-meter freestyle with a time of 4:29.31; Gandioco topped the girls’ 11-12 400-m freestyle in 4:40.13; and Zapanta copped the boys’ 9-10 400-m freestyle gold in 5:02.80.

Jemuel Dumaraos, Banjo Borja and Ricabianca del Mundo followed suit with gold medal swims in the boys’ 9-10 50-m freestyle, boys’ 9-10 100-m backstroke and girls’ 9-10 100-m backstroke, respectively.

Gandioco made the biggest splash after becoming one of the first two double gold medal winners in this sports meet backed by Pagcor, PCSO, Casino Filipino, Samsung, Centrum, Air Philippines, WG&A, Speedo, Galinco, Peak Sports, Kix, Nestle, SC Johnson and STI.

Gandioco bagged her second gold with a victory in the girls’ 11-12 200-m Individual Medley in 2:33.64, eclipsing the old mark of 2:38.24 set by Manila’s Ma. Anna Isabella Arabejo in Bacolod City last year.

Laguna also struck golds in gymnastics and lawn tennis courtesy of its girls’ team event. The boys’ section was topped by Cebu Province.

Dumaraos also created ripples by winning the freestyle in record time of 38.60, erasing Sadeg Neihum’s 38.38 mark in the initial staging of the games in Bacolod City three years ago.

Two other swim records were broken in the day with Margaret Mallo of Iloilo City setting a new mark in the girls’ 6-and-under 50-m backstroke and Monique Bacolod of Cagayan de Oro in the girls’ 11-12 100-m backstroke.

Manila, headed by Mayor Lito Atienza’s son Ali, had its own exploits in the pool, winning seven gold medals.

Ahli Frigillana led the Big City charge with twin victories in the boys’ 11-12 100-m backstroke and 200-m IM. Frigillana, 12, timed 1:08.56 in backstroke and 2:26.39 in IM.

Delivering the other golds for Manila, which swept the two gold medals at stake in dancesports Monday, were Malco Alron Dacanay (11-12 50-m breaststroke), Karla Maria Gonzales (7-8 50-m breastroke), Gian Daniel Berino (1:19.99) and Jasmine Al-Khaldi (7-8 100-m butterfly).