Igot hikes gold haul to six; Matchino shines on track

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan, Philippines — Archer Aldrener Igot Jr. of Cebu City stayed on course to surpassing his seven-gold target as he ruled the cub boys Olympic round yesterday in the Batang Pinoy National Finals at the Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex here.

Igot, who swept the 20 meters, 30m, 40m, 50m and FITA events early on, bested Nathaniel Carlos of host Puerto Princesa, 6-2, under intermittent afternoon rains to hike his total to six, with a chance to win two more in today’s boys’ and mixed team events in this weeklong meet backed by Milo.

“Seven is my target but I will go for eight,” said Igot, who already eclipsed his five-gold haul in the Iloilo leg last March.

While Igot continued to enjoy glorious moment, Carlos was one who got cash reward under the city ordinance of Puerto Princesa. City bets get P120,000 for a gold, P80,000 for a silver and P40,000 for a bronze.

Carlos, a first-timer, has got a total of six silvers.

Naina Dominique Tagle of Dumaguete defeated Shane Dinopol of Cebu in the girls’ side for her fifth mint.

Magvrylle Matchino of Laguna also took the spotlight as she emerged the most bemedaled athlete in centerpiece athletics with five golds and a silver.

The 14-year-old Matchino capped her impressive show by leading the girls’ 4x100m and 4x400m squad of Janine Dauba, Evita Ruth Belloso and Kyla Elona to wins with time of 52.4 seconds and 4:17.30, respectively, and ruling the 2,000m steeplechase in 7:38.8.

She won the 1,500m the day before and settled for a silver in the 800m.

San Fernando, Pampanga bets Franz Michael Matos, Marvin Ramos, Andrei Luigi Bautista and Justin Cain Lingat (boys’ 4x100m), Negros Occidental’s Franzine Alamo (girls’ triple jump), Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte’s Aaron Gumban (boys’ 2000m steeplechase), Camarines Sur’s Gilbert Andrei Velasco (boys’ triple jump), and Baguio’s City’s Hussein Lorana (boys’ 1500m) were the other track winners.

Baguio City grabbed three judo golds courtesy of Leerenz Tindaan (-50kgs class), Aoen Lance Kim (-55kgs), and Wright Lonogan (-60kgs) to overtake Cebu City in the ultra-tight overall race with a current haul of 17 golds, 14 silvers and 21 bronzes.

Cebu City sputtered to second with a 15-19-19 (gold-silver-bronze) collection while Davao City (15-12-14), Pasig (14-24-12) and Cotabato (14-3-1) were at third to fifth places, respectively, but remained in the hunt.

Zamboanga City weightlifters, whose inspiration is hometown hero and Olympic silver medal winner Hidilyn Diaz, kept on raking in victories and harvested five more – thanks to the combined efforts of Christian Rodriguez (49kg) and Rose Jean Ramos (45kgs).

 In cycling, Ruben del Cruz of Pangasinan, Athena Magpantay of Sara, Iloilo and Lwahna Montanes of Parañaque timed in 7:21.8, 27:13.9 and 37:15.3 in becoming cross country mountain bike gold medal winners.