NCR bet cops 4th gold; teen pug shines

MANILA, Philippines - A boxer who barely stands five feet and a runner who originally hails from Jolo in Sulu provided the worthiest performances yesterday, the penultimate day of the CHED National Games at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Mark Barriga, a 16-year-old boxer from Panabo in Davao del Norte, posted the most lopsided win in the ring so far, a 19-5 decision over Lorry Castor of Mirapora that gave him the light-flyweight gold.

Serenata Suluan of Jolo, representing the National Capital Region after being recruited by the Santo Tomas U, carried her team to the 4x400-meter relay gold in three minutes 51.6 seconds.

Suluan teamed up with Keizel Pedrina and sisters Vienna Mae and Ma. Dela Paz Banebane in surpassing the UAAP record of 3:54.54 they set early this month.

It was her fourth gold medal in the meet that is aimed at producing or identifying fresh talents from around the country.

Suluan, 17, emerged the best performer in the centerpiece event of athletics with her fourth gold, including record-breaking runs in 1,500 and 800 meters, and another in the 3,000 meters

For her records, she stands to receive P40,000 in cash incentive from Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping.

“I’m just happy I won four,” said the soft-spoken Suluan in Filipino.

The win by Barriga set the tone for Davao Region’s domination of the boxing, the country’s biggest source of pride in the international scene. It won four gold medals and a bronze in this event sponsored by the PSC, Smart, Pagcor, San Miguel Corp., AMA and STI.

Lightweight Alfredo Deano, light welterweight Jay-Ar Inson and welterweight Jefferson Nunez delivered the other mints for Davao, considered one of the country’s sources of future RP standouts.

It was, however, the pint-sized Barriga’s win that shone brightest since the first year commerce student of University of Mindanao-Panabo won over older, bigger foes.

Cordillera Administrative Region won three golds courtesy of flyweight Crisanto Godaren, bantamweight David Pacray and featherweight Glicerio Catolico III while the NCR contented itself with middleweight Jay Harold Gregorio’s triumph.

“My dream is to win the gold in the Olympics and turn pro when I’m 23 ,” said Barriga, a huge fan of Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco.

In chess, the NCR, represented by Far Eastern U, swept the two gold medals in the event.

CHED organizers, headed by chairman Emmanuel Angeles, decided to focus on feting and recognizing the top individual performers instead of the traditional overall team champion.