Taguinota sparkles with 5 golds

MANILA, Philippines —  Tanker Arvin Taguinota splashed his way to a pair of gold medals yesterday to join Pasig City teammate and gymnast Haylee Garcia in the elite quintuple gold medal club in the Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa, Palawan yesterday.

Taguinota, an 11-year-old protégée of Olympian Jessie Lacuna, topped the 12-13 boys 100-meter backstroke in a minute and 4.30 seconds and then teamed up with Ricardo Delgado, Marcelino Picardal III and Jefferson Saburlase in seizing the 4x50m freestyle relay mint in 1:47.44.

Taguinota, who also won in 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley, matched the five-gold haul of Garcia in the FIG juniors class of women’s artistic gymnastics Monday over in Intramuros, Manila.

FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca of Davao del Norte impressed as he completed a chess treble by ruling blitz, rapid and standard in the boys 15-year-old division.

In taekwondo, Baguio held sway with a three-gold haul.