MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region’s Claire Adorna came through with a tidal wave of a performance as she fished out three more gold medals to hike her total to six in the 2010 CHED National Games at the Rizal Memorial pool.
Adorna, a 17-year old UP public administration freshman, took the gold in the 100m butterfly in 1 minute, 8.50 seconds, 100m freestyle (1:04.57) and 50m backstroke (32.65).
Carla Grabador, who made heads turn in Day One with triple-gold feat, topped the 800m freestyle, her pet event, in 10:10.79.
Grabador, however, was 10 seconds off her best effort in snaring the bronze in last year’s Palarong Pambansa.
Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping, whose agency is supporting this weeklong event for college athletes, said he would reward Santo Tomas’ Serenata Saluan with a P20,000 cash incentive for shattering a collegiate record in the 1500m run in 4:37.4.
The 17-year-old education freshman eclipsed the UAAP mark of 4:38.80 set by former schoolmate Bernardita Mag-aso two years back.
Adorna, winner of the 400m individual medley, 4x50m and 400m freestyle relays, will shoot for a seventh mint in today’s 4x50m medley relay to cap her spectacular performance.
“I was not expecting this because it was really our offseason,” said the dusky Adorna, a silver and bronze medalist in the Tacloban Palaro. “Tingnan natin kung ma-perfect natin,” she added.
Bernie Cavida, Adorna’s long-time coach, agrees.
“I know she can sweep it,” he said referring to Adorna’s seven-gold feat.
In centerpiece track and field, University of Cordillera’s Ceazar Casteneto, University of Baguio’s Flordeliza Donos and Katherine Joy Yap topped the men’s 5000m run, women’s 5000m run and the women’s long jump. – Joey Villar
Casteneto chased down and overtook Davao’s Rafael Poliquit in the last 50 meters to win in 15 minutes, 47.2 seconds in this event backed by the PSC, San Miguel Corporation, Smart, AMA and STI.
Sharing the spotlight was another female UP swimmer, Jacklyn Judi Juinio, who bagged her second gold medal in copping the 200-meter back (2:39.28)
Ronald Allan Guiriba likewise made his presence his felt as the fourth-year physical education student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, carrying the colors of NCR, swam away with two golds in the men’s 100-meter free (54.53) while anchoring the NCR team to victory in the 200-meter freestyle relay.
The former Batang Pinoy standout now boasts of three golds following his triumph in the men’s 50-meter free.
Over at the Rizal Memorial oval, Region VI’s Jospeh Binas bagged the men’s 400-meter gold (49.2 seconds) while NCR’s Keizel Pedrina (58.0) took the championship on the distaff side.
Region 7’s Dharl Pitogo bagged the gold in the men’s 110-meter hurdles ( (15.7) and NCR’s Ma. Jenny Togle ruled the women’s 100-meter hurdles (14.5) seconds.
In the 51-kilogram (flyweight) boxing quarterfinals, NCR’s Ariel Dofeo nipped Region 7’s Jesriel Gumapac, 31-30; Region 8’s Jason Entia whipped Region 1’s Jose Sanicolas, 25-20; CAR’s Crisanto Godaren mauled Region 9’s Kenneth Rebarbas, 30-11;and Region 4-B’s John Farrel Belarmino whipped Region 11’s Anthony Saron.
In the 54-kilo (bantamweight) quarters, CAR’s David Pacray topped Region 11’s Jolan Bonghanoy , 42-36; Region 4-B’s Frismar Inopia toyed with NCR’s Edilbert Marfil, 50-23; Region 7’s John Kenan Villafor forced Region 5’s Leopoldo Casaya at the start of the third round and Region 9’s Stephen Dolor ousted Region 1’s Mokan Johnny Galvez, 11-8.
Region 11’s Alfredo Deano pulled off the quickest fight yesterday with a RSC (referee-stopped-contest) with 43 seconds in the first round over Region 12’s Maarlon Navarro; Region 1’s Cesar Humelde likewise pounded out an RSC verdict over NCR’s Horley Cosep in the 2:54 of the second round; and Region 7’s Robert Eturma outclassed Region 9’s Roy Laquias, 41-18.