GenSan bet cops 2 golds in badminton

General Santos City badminton bet Samuel Dalago gained two top podium honors in the penultimate day of the second Manila Youth Games National Invitational at the San Andres Gym.

Dalago, a 17-year-old first year engineering student at Holy Trinity, outclassed fancied Big City foes to win two gold medals in this weeklong meet.

Banking on power strokes and superb court coverage, Dalago smashed Elmo Sese IV of Parañaque City, 21-14, 21-11, to top the singles class.

The event is presented by Converse, sponsored by San Miguel, Tanduay, Pagcor, Super Ferry and Milo, and supported by Land Bank, Metrobank, Procter and Gamble, Globe, Spurway Enterprises, Jex Nylon Shuttles, STI-Taft, PLDT MyDSL, Aktivade, Isuzu Manila, Intra Sports and Concept Movers.

After a brief rest, Dalago teamed up with close buddy Aljun Valerio in walloping Rolly Goboy and Jake Nazareth of Quezon City, 21-8, 21-11, to make it a golden double.

Dalago also had a double-gold effort early this year when he topped the singles and boys doubles events, also in partnership with Valerio, in the Tuna Sports Festival.

Dalago and Valerio also snatched a bronze in the doubles of the Palarong Pambansa last summer in Naga City.

The host city managed to avoid a penultimate day shutout, thanks to Lea Mangoba, who downed Ivy Rios of Muntinlupa City, 21-17, 21-10, to cop the 17-and-under singles gold.

Quezon City’s Nicola Gabriel Mendoza and Margaret Lim trounced Manila’s Mangoba and Jayvee Ann Ignacio, 21-11, 21-15, for the 17-and-under doubles gold.

Rios and teammate Romrome Malacad edged Candon City’s Jesus Gamata and Sheera Marie Manzano, 21-17, 16-21, 21-13, to rule the mixed doubles division.

Manila has clinched the overall title with a 50-gold, 37-silver and 34-bronze medal haul going into the final day.

Quezon City was Manila’s closest pursuer with 19 gold, 21 silver and 23 bronze medals.