Ilonggo teener starts zero, ends hero

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Ilonggo teener Warlie Gumban turned from an unwilling spectator in the POC-PSC National Games last year to a champion as he led Iloilo Province to a two-gold romp in the arnis anyo competitions at the COSCA Gym here.

Gumban, who was disqualified from the Bacolod edition for being under the minimum age of 18 that time, made good on his first PNG stint by topping the men’s individual doble baston (double weapon) play.

Together with teammate Glory Joy Bartonico, who claimed her maiden PNG diadem in the women’s individual solo baston (single weapon), Gumban’s triumph hiked Iloilo’s collection after two days of action to two golds and two bronzes (Kieser Juanga in men’s individual solo baston and Bartonico in women’s individual doble baston).

“Hindi ko expected na mag-gold kasi hindi naging maayos ang ensayo ko; nag-aapply kasi akong working student sa amin at nilagnat pa ako pagdating namin dito (This is unexpected since my training was not 100 percent, as I had to apply for a job as a working student back home and I even suffered from fever when we got here),” said Gumban, a marine engineering student at Western Visayas State Tech.

While new titlists were crowned in the country’s national sport, old faces ruled the roost in triathlon over in Sipalay, some 200 kilometers from this “university city.”

Flaunting the form that’s made them Phl’s top bets, Nikko Huelgas of Las Piñas and Marion Kim Mangrobang of Sta. Rosa, Laguna stormed to their second straight PNG crowns in the 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run practically unchallenged.

Huelgas negotiated the course that went through Negros’ scenic beaches and panoramic mountain views in  2:03:46 for the runaway win over Jonard Saim of Gen. Santos City (2:17:34) and John Chicano of Olongapo (2:29:26).

Mangrobang, a former titlist in the Mekong Triathlon in Thailand, finished in 2:26:43, way ahead of Mirasol Abad of Davao (2:36:17) and Alexandra Ganzon of Iloilo (2:44:36).

Executing his moves holding two weapons with grace and snap, the 18-year-old Gumban got a net score of 67 points to beat Raymart Gutierrez of Baguio City (65.5) and John Franklin Dresson of Cagayan de Oro (64.5) for his first plum.

Fellow Ilonggo Bartonico bounced back from a fourth place finish last year to score a title-clinching 67 against  Reignerose Esguerra of Pasig (66) and Claire Danga-as of Baguio (66). She failed to make it a double victory, settling for third (64.5) in the doble baston dominated by Cagayan de Oro’s Nina Allana Gae Tabor (65.5).

“Actually, kahapon ng umaga ko lang ginawa yung exhibition ko at pinerform ko agad sa hapon. So hindi ko talaga inakala na ako ang mananalo (I hardly had time to prepare thoroughly for my routine and performed it immediately so this is a surpise win),” said Bartonico.

Elmer Batani of Baguio City, who was part of the Pine City’s winning synchronized espada y daga (sword and dagger) team in the 2011 PNG, struck gold on his first try at men’s individual solo baston.

Clad in an Igorot warrior attire with improvised tattoos and gracefully wielding his weapons to the beat of native hym “Nanlayad” (Loving), 20-year-old Batani earned a 64.5 net score, barely edging Ric Marcelino of CDO (64) for the plum.

“Confident ako dahil maganda ang naging training namin (I was confident because we trained well for this),” said Batani.

In billiards, Ronald Bacolod sent shockwaves to the men’s 9-ball event, bundling out last year’s silver medalist Delfin Tugado, 9-4.

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (inset) rescue participants thrown off their boat by a big wave during the national dragonboat competition along Manila Baywalk yesterday. The competition is one of the events of the POC-PSC national games. EDD GUMBAN

Observers said national pool member Tugado, the highest rated participant in the absence of superstars like Efren “Bata” Reyes, was torn between his pet event and snooker table as he was also slated to see action in six red snooker later in the afternoon.

Other second-round winners were Luis Saberdo, who drubbed Edison Heresilles, 9-5; R. Mapili, who tripped Randy Tabares, 9-4; and Julifer Al-os, who dumped Francisco Tropezado, 9-6.

Over at the University of Santo Tomas field in Manila, Philab Los Baños moved on a verge of a semifinal slot after an 8-7 escape act over Adamson in baseball.

Jeffrey Sinangote belted a triple to left center to drive home Romeo Jasmin as Philab notched its fourth win against a single loss for second spot in Group A behind unbeaten National team (6-0).

The nationals have already clinched the first semis berth.

Centerpiece track and field, meanwhile, blasts off at the Perdices Sports Complex today with some 14 gold medals at stake, including women’s 10,000 meter run, shot put, high jump, and pole vault.

Notes: Barely a month since copping a gold medal in her last stint at the Palarong Pambansa, 16-year-old Cindy Abigail Monte has assumed a bigger role in this PNG – as Iloilo Province’s coach. “Gusto namin pakita na yung Western Visayas magagaling rin sa arnis (We want to show that Western Visayas is at par with the best regions in arnis),” said Monte, whose team is locked in a tight battle for supremacy with Baguio City. Ironically, the young lass will relocate to the Summer Capital for the coming schoolyear and carry its banner in the next arnis competitions...Although top player GM Wesley So is not around, the PNG chess hostilities will have a high-profile cast led by Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and GM Joey Antonio, and GMs Darwin Laylo and Richard Bitoon. The PNG chess competition is probably the largest field for a national chess tourney, with 188 participants, according to National Chess Federation of the Phl executive director Jayson Gonzales.