On a fine Monday when Koronadal, Iligan and Davao City swimmers figured in a classic showdown at the Mati Centennial Sports Complex pool, Cotabato City and South Cotabato riders, meanwhile, showed up their rivals in the mountain bike 1.2km downhill ride in an off-road just outside the town limits.
In gymnastics, Gen. Santos City captured the first gold medal staked in the event through its women’s individual all-around bet Jessa Decipulo.
However, a brother-sister tandem from Koronadal stole the thunder as Ismael Jade and Izah Sueno — both UAAP champions in Manila — snared two golds each in the initial burst of action in the swimming event of this meet sponsored by Air Philippines, Samsung, STI, Centrum, Nestle Phil., Speedo, KIX Taekwondo, Pagcor, Rogemson, WG&A Super Ferry, PCSO, Philcom, Bachelor Express, Baygon and Burlington.
Just on the efforts of the children of former South Cotabato Gov. Ismael Sueno, Koronadal already matched its four-gold haul in the second edition of the MFG last year in Cagayan de Oro. The South Cotabato capital surpassed the record before the day ended as another lady swimmer Teresa Simora topped her event–50m breaststroke.
At press time, Davao City was in the lead in the medal chart with a harvest of eight golds, 10 silvers and five bronzes, Koronadal in second with 5-3-2, followed by reigning overall champion Iligan with 4-3-7, Gen. Santos 2-2-2, Bukidnon 2-1-1, Ozamis 1-2-0, Cotabato City 1-1-0, Panabo 1-1-0 and South Cotabato 1-0-1.
The 18-year-old Ismael drowned the oppositions in the 200m individual medley and 50m freestyle while the 17-year-old Izah reigned supreme in 40m freestyle and 200m IM.
"We are confident of winning more in the next few days,‚" said Izah, who added that they got their inspiration from their eldest sister, Ivy Joyce, who was a Palarong Pambansa champion before becoming a physician.
Koronadal officials, meanwhile, gave credit to their swimming coach Ramil Jagurin, who incidentally trained under Philippine Sports Commission chair Eric Buhain.
"Mabuti naman at nakatulong tayo kahit papaano," said Buhain in a text message.
Another swimmer dishing out remarkable showing was Ilagan’s Monique Bacolod–another UAAP champion.
The 14-year-old Bacolod accounted for three of Ilagan’s four-gold take with victories in 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 400m freestyle relay.
She missed what could have been a fourth gold as she settled for second place behind Sueno in 200m IM.
Davao City got four golds in swimming courtesy of Norton Alampara in 50m breaststroke, Carlo Rodriguez in 100m butterfly, Corinna Rosete in women’s 100m butterfly and its men’s 40m freestyle relay team.
The Davao City bets, cheered on by no less than their mayor Rodrigo Duterte, made it a five-gold haul with John Mark Ryan Palina topping the men’s individual all-around in gymnastics.
Ozamis nailed a swimming gold through Albert Pondoc in the 100m backstroke.
Cotabato City riders Datu Sinsuat and his uncle Datu Radin Ampatuan ran off with the gold and silver medals, respectively, in downhill competition of the mountain bike held at Sitio Baso in Barangay Badas.
The 18-year-old Sinsuat, an Ateneo de Davao University management graduate, clocked 1.14.59 seconds while Ampatuan checked in with a time of 1:15.95.
Anelia Primnes of South Cotabato didn’t need to push herself hard in ruling the distaff side, being a lone entry in the event. She clocked 4:32.91.