Gotuaco bags second gold in NCR Batang Pinoy

MANILA, Philippines - Bianca Roxas-Chua Gotuaco re-stamped her class in the Olympic Round 18-meter individual archery event and won her second gold medal even as Manila and Quezon City dominated athletics and swimming in Day 2 of the National Capital Region eliminations of the Batang Pinoy yesterday.

Gotuaco, a freshman at the International School-Manila, asserted her supremacy against Caitlin Miciane, 3-0, to complete her sweep of the girls individual honor in archery which came to a close at the Rizal Memorial baseball field.

The 14-year-old Gotuaco topped the FITA double 18-meter individual event last Tuesday with 547 points from rounds of 274-273 out of 600 in the 60 arrows duel. Miciane claimed the bronze with 450.

“It’s an honor and I’m very thankful to my coach and to my parents for their guidance and support,” said Gotuaco, a top candidate for the 2014 Youth Olympics after a silver medal finish in the recent US Games.

The Palarong Pambansa campaigner finished runner-up in the California State FITA tournament to gain a berth in the US tilt.

Quezon City swept the team events against Manila with the troika of Louis Valmocina, Luis Moreno and Julio Valera claiming the boys title, and the trio of Karen Valera, Nicole Tiu ruling the distaff side.

Valmocina also topped the boys FITA double 18-meter (527), while Moreno won the boys Olympic Round honor.

Over at the Philsports track oval in Pasig City, siblings Garry and Stephanie Santiago won five out of six gold medals disputed in throwing events with the 15-year-old Garry becoming the first triple gold medalist by topping the boys discus throw (35.29m), javelin (47.74m) and shot put (13.99).

Stephanie, on the other hand, dominated the girls discus (25.32m) and shot put (8.59m), but settled for third in javelin ruled by Lourist Donaire of Marikina (17.02m).

“I’m very happy, it has been my dream to win a big tournament and I’m thankful to have achieved it here in Batang Pinoy,” said Garry, a second year student from Paterno High School.

He added he will immediately go back to training to prepare himself for the national finals of the event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by Smart Sports, Summit Mineral Water, Milo, Maynilad, Jollibee, Negros Navigation, Aboitiz, Standard Insurance Inc., RELIV Now for Kids, Growee Multivitamins and the British Council, slated Dec. 10-13 in Naga City.

At the Makati Aquatics Center, Quezon City took five out of six gold medals with Aaron Ho scoring a double victory in the boys 200m free (2:20.60) while anchoring the QC team in the boys 200m medley relay in 2:02.37. The QC girls team also outshone its Big City rivals with a time of 2:17.62.

Jeremy Lim topped the boys 14-15 200m free (2:12.53) against Manila’s Alberto Batungbakal (2:12.83) while Collen Limsui beat Claire Galang in the girls 200m free in 2:12.53.

Manila’s Jolermina Bunag stopped QC’s streak with a victory in the girls 14-15 200m free, beating teammate Cristine Mendoza, who clocked 2:21.21.