Orella, Sembrano shine

MANILA, Philippines - Manila’s Arielle Nicholas Orella and Divina Sembrano dominated the field in the high school and elementary girls’ rhythmic gymnastics as they ran away with the gold medals in the National Capital Region Palarong Pambansa qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial gym late Thursday.

A double gold medalist in last year’s national Palarong Pambansa in Laguna, Orella flashed top form in securing the hoop (15.7 points), ball (16.3), clubs (14.5) and ribbon (13.833) golds on the way to winning the all-around championship (60.333).

The Abad Santos High School fourth-year student capped her dominant showing as she anchored the Manila squad also composed of Jelligyn Gernandoy and Jazelle Leminzon to the team gold with a runaway tally of 156.4 points.

The petite Sembrano also swept all her events in the elementary division as the pride of Regidor Elementary School topped the freehand (13.333), rope (10.8667), hoop (10.80) and clubs contests (12.367)  to also garner the all-around plum (47.637).

Sembrano also combined with Gene Christia Eugenio and Kyla Nicole Lopez in powering Manila to the team championship (120.934) in the sportstfest hosted by Parañaque, which commemorated its 17th anniversary of cityhood yesterday.

Manila also proved superior in the high school boys artistic gymnastics with John Ivan Cruz, a member of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines developmental pool, romping off with all five golds in the event.

Cruz, who won two golds in the 2014 Palaro, was the topnotcher in the floor exercise (14.300), vault (14.300), mushroom (9.550) and all-around (37.05) while anchoring the Manila gymnasts to the team title (107.95).

Pasig City’s Jhon Romeo Santillan, who trains at Club Gymnastica,  broke Manila’s dominance in gymnastics by topping the elementary boys floor exercise (13.1) and all-around (13.1), boosting the city to team honors (50.25). Teammate Juancho Miguel Bestana bagged the vault gold (12.1).

In archery, Pasay’s Pacifico Aranas II, who saw action in the Batang Pinoy Games Luzon leg in Naga City  last year, captured three golds as he swept the high school boys division with victories in the 30-meter (326 points), 40-meter (308) and 50-meter (321) distances, respectively.

Makati’s Julianne Sofi Espejo garnered two golds in the high school girls division in ruling the 30-meter (319) and 40-meter distances (299) while Pasig’s Kin Corazon Aranda took the 50-meter championship (313).

San Juan’s Jake Martin and the Chloe Saraza clinched the high school boys and girls lawn tennis championships while Aljon Talatayod and Muntinlupa’s Denese Bernardo were the individual winners in the elementary boys and girls divisions, respectively, at the Olivarez courts in Paranaque.

Pasig asserted its supremacy in ethnic martial art of arnis by monopolizing all eight team events disputed thus far in the event held at SM Sucat-Paranaque Building B.

The Pasig arnis exponents topped the elementary and secondary team synchronized solo baston, individual solo baston, individual doble baston and espada y daga.

Caloocan City captured the high school girls sepak takraw gold.