TRIPLE DOUBLE
Swimmer Eirron Seth Vibar wins his third gold while runner Arlan Arbois, Jr. pockets his second gold for Davao region Host region’s dancesports team bags two golds in the National Prisaa Games 2019
Swimmer Eirron Seth Vibar clinched his third gold medal while runner Arlan Arbois, Jr. took his second gold as the dancesports team delivered two golds for Davao region to stay in contention in the ongoing National Prisaa Games 2019.
Davao City tanker Vibar, 16, of Apo Learning Village, ruled the junior boys 1500-meter freestyle event, clocking 18 minutes and 15.31 seconds at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex in Tagum City yesterday, May 22. He toppled Andre Lois Valencia (19:12.82) of Central Visayas and Ronald Kent (19:25.09) of Western Visayas who got the silver and bronze, respectively.
He bagged two golds (junior boys 400m individual medley, 200m freestyle) and one bronze (juniors boys 200m butterfly) Tuesday, May 21.
Thus, Dabawenyo Vibar, a 10th BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games 2018 gold medalist, is on track in fulfilling his goal of winning the most valuable player (MVP) award. He will see action in three more events in the swimfest.
"Para po sa friends, family and all those who supported me through the years," Vibar said of his victories in the National Prisaa Games 2019 backed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), city government of Davao, Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education.
SWEET SECOND
Rizal Memorial College's Crimonology student Arbois, for his part, could not believe topping the senior men's 10,000m run yesterday after dominating the 5,000m Tuesday at the University of Mindanao (UM) track oval.
The 22-year-old champion, however, said only his siblings knew about his feats since it's difficult to reach his parents Arlan Sr., a farmer, and Ginalyn, a housewife, with no signal in their home,
which is located in the hinterland of Tupi, South Cotabato.
He then reminisced how he would run going to school and returning home each day as a student.
His school was five kilometers away from their home. Yet, he did not run for one roundtrip, he had to do it twice often each day since he usually ate lunch at home as well.
"Naanad nako mudagan pasaka panaug nga dalan. Wala koy coach pero tong 11 ko nagsugod nako apil og lumba (I got used to running uphill and downhill. I had no coach but I started joining races when I was 11 years old)," Arbois said in an interview with SunStar Davao.
He will next compete in 1,500m but he downplayed his chances, claiming it's not his favorite event.
Prisaa first timer Jericko Roy Juyo, meanwhile, captured a gold in secondary boys 5,000m late Tuesday afternoon. He checked in at 18:17:28, beating Edmar Catacutan (19:05:28) of Cagayan Valley and Jerome Mhiko Rosario of Central Visayas (19:34:00).
Juyo, 18, an incoming Grade 12 student of Emar Human and Environmental College, overcame his jitters by enjoying his run. "Isip lang nako akong pamilya, akong future na makaabot ko sa laing bansa, mamahimong national team member (I thought of my family, my future, competing abroad and becoming a national team member while running)."
TWIN KILL
Over at the Philippine Women's College (PWC) Auditorium, Davao region pairs Dave Torres-Roshua Adela Daclan and Lance Roy Laude-Krashel Bishoppe Balanza emerged champions in their respective events as the dancesports competition concluded Tuesday afternoon.
Torres and Daclan of Davao Doctors College annexed the modern standard senior division gold over Eleazar Sumaol and Ma. Sophia Puerto of Soccsksargen who got the silver and Von Elijah Lavaro and Allyssa Dator of Calabarzon who pocketed the bronze.
Torres, 18, an incoming freshman college, said
it was special that they copped a gold in junior division last year in Bohol and won another one in the senior event this year.
"We worked hard and doubled our efforts because other teams were also preparing to win the title. I thank those who supported us in our battle, especially to our parents, coaches and to those who have faith in us," he said.
Daclan, for her part, shared the rigors of training, saying that they prepared mentally, physically and emotionally. "There were times when I get tired but because of my perseverance to win, I told myself to keep going for everybody else who has been supporting us," she added.
UM's Laude-Balanza tandem, on the other hand, bested their rivals Jury Pagcalibangan and Princess Joy Estabillo of Soccsksargen and Justin Kyle Tapales and Iralee Janelle Galanto of Zamboanga Peninsula for the modern standard junior division gold.
Laude, 15, joined the Prisaa thrice but this was his first to win a gold with his new partner. He brought home a silver and a bronze in past stagings of the national games.
"We trained in Manila for this competition. Aside from winning this for Jesus, we are also winning this for our parents who use their money so we can have private lessons. Seeing them smile after we won the gold is so precious," Laude said.
Balanza said it brought her pride and joy to win for the host region. She said, "This is also a milestone for me having also won golds in Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy."
As of 12 noon yesterday, Davao region collected six golds in athletics, five golds in swimming and two golds in dancesports.
SunStar Davao's coverage of the National Prisaa Games 2019 is made possible by major sponsors Matina Enclaves, Santos Land Development, 8890 Holdings, Inc., Anflocor, Sky Cable and Pagcor and minor sponsors Aeon Luxe Properties, Davao Doctors College, GH Office Depot, Grand Land, Inc., Alu Hotel, Davao Medical School Foundation, NCCC and Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Osap).