Laguna bets cap romp in Batang Pinoy meet

CALAPAN, Oriental Mindoro , Philippines – Defending national champion Laguna dominated badminton and chess to cap its week-long romp in the Southern Luzon leg of the Batang Pinoy Games here yesterday.

Mary Ann Maranon of Victoria, Laguna bagged the gold in girls’ singles badminton with a 21-12, 21-12 victory over doubles teammate Alyssa Geverjuan of Calamba town in the finals.

Arman Joseph Manlalangit of Sta. Rosa foiled a sweep by Laguna with a hard-earned 21-16, 16-21, 21-13 win over Jan Emilio Mangubat of Victoria, Laguna in the boys’ singles finals.

Mangubat, a high school sophomore at Trace College, bounced back from that defeat as he teamed up with Fides Bagasbas to beat John Abuel Sy and Josef Dumapit, 21-15, 21-13, in an all-Laguna doubles finale.

Chessers Ian Jasper Forcado, Kenneth Flores and Eric Robert Yap also won two gold medals in the boys’ division of team blitz and standard events while the trio of Cristhina Ann Medenilla, Eula Djemarie Dela Cruz and Iris May Dela Cruz won the team girls’ standard gold.

Overall, Laguna topped the talent discovery meet for athletes 15 years old and below with 73 gold, 59 silver and 50 bronze medals. Dasmariñas placed second overall with a 25-29-18 haul.

Calapan City struck in the final day of competitions with three gold medals in chess and finished with 24 gold, 19 silver and 19 bronze medals.