CEBU PROVINCE TAKES LEAD ON DAY 2
Cebu Province takes lead in Batang Pinoy with 14 gold medals in Day 2 Cebu Province eyes more medals in kumite event of Karatedo
Cebu Province took the lead on Day 2 of the 2017 Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifiers, thanks to its strong showing in chess and karatedo in Dumaguete City yesterday.
Cebu Province hauled a total of 14 gold medals after two days of competition, getting five gold medals from karatedo and four gold medals from chess. The swimming team added three gold medals, while athletics and sepak takraw handed one gold medal apiece.
Trisha Ogoc won the gold medal in the girls’ 8-9 years old advance kata. Rhean Jill Negapatan added gold in the girls’ 13-Under intermediate kata, while Niko Avila pocketed the gold medal in the boys’ 10-11 advance kata. Alenna Mariz Benitez got gold in the girls’ 14 -15 intermediate kata and Janine Narbuada in the girls’ 10-11 advance kata.
“Our aim is to qualify as many athletes for the national finals, and winning five gold medals on the first day of karatedo competition is a very good start for us,” said Cebu Province karatedo head coach Rhodee Antoinette Saavedra.
The karatedo team is composed of 27 players and will compete in kumite event today.
Marian Calimbo of Malabuyoc grabbed two gold medals in girls 15-under blitz and rapid chess. Kristina Concepcion Belano added a gold in the girls’ 12-under rapid chess and also a bronze medal in the blitz chess.
Jeremy Tanudra handed another gold medal from the boys’ 15-under blitz chess.
“This is my first gold medal in Batang Pinoy on my second try. I did not win a medal in my first Batang Pinoy in 2015, so I’m very happy to win two golds here, and also I will be able play in the national finals,” said Calimbo.
In swimming, Marielle Estreba captured gold in the girls’ 13-15 100-meter butterfly after clocking 1:16.99, beating Raela Duchess Grace Uy of Bacolod City by about nine seconds. Zuriel Sesante of Negros Oriental placed third with 1:31.95. Charles Jeremiah Lipura won the gold medal in the boys’ 13-15 100m butterfly in 1:09.20, his teammate Psalm Deniel Aquino took silver in 1:09.55. Joshua Mig Macasilig of Negros Oriental settled for bronze with 1:09.78.
Jacob Kennedy Lipura won the gold in the boys’ 12-under 100m butterfly with 1:34.79, beating Marco Juan Sayson of Negros Oriental and John Sylvester Dequina of Tagbilaran, who had times of 1:37.49 and 1:37.62. /