MAASIN CITY, Leyte, Philippines – Cebu City completed its display of sporting might to become runaway champion with 71 gold medals, 52 silvers and 25 bronzes in the Philippine Sports. Commission-Philippine Olympic Committee Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifying leg which ended yesterday here.
The region’s powerhouse, which fielded 168 athletes, was unmatched in most of the 20 sports played over the week but struck hard in medal-rich fronts like swimming, karatedo and athletics to also come away with 52 silvers and 25 bronzes.
The Queen City of the South thus assured itself of enough bets in the National Finals slated in Bacolod City in November. All medalists in individual events in each leg qualify for the culminating leg, while at least the silver winners in team events advance.
In swimming alone, Cebu City scooped 26 golds, 17 silvers and five bronzes, starring University of Cebu stalwart, 14-year-old Karen Mae Indaya who accounted for six golds.
Only Bohol Province managed to put up a decent fight against Cebu City as it won 21 golds in swimming out of its total 23-15-11 medal tally which was good for second overall.
Twelve-year-old Rian Marco Tirol propelled the Bohol Province tankers and essentially the whole team which picked two more golds in karatedo.
Iloilo City leaned on arnis, pencak and karatedo for 18 golds, four silvers and seven bronzes, while Bacolod City gained in swimming and table tennis for 11 golds so far, although the count is expected to move with the outcome of boxing events being fought as presstime.
Maasin City figured prominently with a 8-13-10 count including the top prize in gymnastics.