Former track star’s son also rises

Like father, like son.

Isidro del Prado Jr., son of former Olympian and Asian Gamer Isidro Sr., continued to carve out a name for himself on the very track and same event where his father ruled decades ago as he captured a gold medal yesterday to sustain the Manila bets’ charge in the second Manila Youth Games National Invitational at the Rizal track oval.

A day after leading Manila’s 4x100-meter medley relay team to victory, Del Prado, 13, captured another gold, this time as he topped the 400m run in 53.8 seconds that highlighted the host city’s nine-gold medal splurge in the second day of centerpiece athletics event.

"Yes, he’s the son," said Ben Silva-Netto, secretary-general of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa), who is personally overseeing the event.

Del Prado Sr. was a member of RP’s 4x400m relay team that won a bronze medal in the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, Korea and a gold medal winner in the 1983 and 1985 Asian Championships in the 400 meters.

Manila’s Justin Tabunda, son of another former national standout in Justo, also came away with a golden run when he topped the 800m run Tuesday in two minutes and 2.9 seconds.

Like del Prado, Romar Bronolan and Rolando de Ramos also pulled off a pair of golden efforts.

Bronolan ruled the triple jump and high jump for 13-15 years old with leaps of 12.70 and 1.74 meters, respectively, while de Ramos reigned supreme in the 400m and 100m events with times of 50.7 and 10.9, respectively.

The other gold medal winners for Manila were Rogimar Umingan (100m for 12-and-under), Kathleen Homillano (discus throw for 12-and-under) and Elcid Cuyugan (shot put for 13-15 years old).

In little league baseball, Ilocos Norte unleashed a 10-run splurge in the final two innings as it stunned Manila, 14-13, for its third straight win.

In badminton, Samuel Dalago of General Santos downed Ericson Reyes of Muntinlupa, 21-13, 21-7, to set up a semifinal duel with Michael Andrew dela Cruz of Parañaque, who won by default over Manila’s Adrian Joseph Bautista.

Other semifinalists were Elmo Sese VII of Parañaque, who edged Jesus Gamata of Candon City, 17-21, 21-16, 21-15, and Noriel Louis de Dios, a 21-12, 21-17 winner over Ronald Tacadino of Quezon City.

Meanwhile, three 13-year old athletes from Quezon City were disqualified for competing in the 12-and-under division. The names weren’t disclosed but organizers said one was stripped of a gold medal.