Host Manila dominates MY Games

Manila capped its amazing performance with a final day 10-gold medal splurge at the pool yesterday to rule the first MY Games National Invitational at the Rizal Pool with plenty to spare.

Apryl Herrera, 16, splashed her way to a pair of golden swims in the 800-m and 100-m freestyle for 15-17 girls as she barged into the elite quintuple gold medal group alongside teammates Tessa Alcantara and Maxim Quilala.

Alcantara, 15, ruled the 50-m backstroke for 15-17 girls while Quilala, 14, topped the 50-m backstroke for 13-14 boys to notch their fifth gold medal and help power the Big City bets to a whopping 55-gold medal haul in the three-day swimming competition.

But the meet belonged to Laguna’s Ma. Cecilia Constantino, who was adjudged Most Outstanding Athlete with five gold medals in the 100-m, 200-m, 400-m, 4x100-m and 4x400-m.

"I’m truly happy with our performance and the way this tournament went," said Manila Sports Council chief Ali Atienza, who co-organized the meet with father Manila Mayor Lito and brother Kim.

Parañaque unleashed a final day assault with an eight-gold harvest courtesy of Al-Khaldi siblings Jasmine and Fahad in the event presented by Globe, PAGCOR, San Miguel, PAL, SuperFerry, Milo, Unilever, Speedo, Red Bull, Land Bank, Isuzu Manila, IntraSport and Concept Movers.

Jasmine, 11, seized her third and fourth gold medals in the 100-m freestyle and 50-m freestyle for 11-12 girls while the younger Fahad, 9, reigned supreme in the 50-m backstroke for 10-and-under boys.

Over at the San Andres Sports and Civic Center, Manila copped six more gold medals in taekwondo thanks to victories by Ronnel Gonzales (120-128), John Rezaba (136-144), Clarence (heavyweight), Alvin Orbenza (144-152), Billy Ullidan (160-168) and Christine (middleweight junior) Virtudazo.

Hansel Gregorio bested Felix Gelio of Quezon City in the finweight division to book Marikina City’s first gold medal in the meet while James Cruz provided Muntinlupa its lone gold in taekwondo.