Nueva Ecija pugs dominant in CLRAA
IBA, Zambales—Reigning titlist Ariel Tibayan posted a first-round technical knockout win over Jonathan Aguas of Tarlac City to power Nueve Ecija to the overall title in secondary boxing of the 2012 Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) at the Peoples Park here on Thursday.
Swimmers from Angeles City, meanwhile, scooped six gold medals in the sport’s final day of competition at the Zambales Sports Complex to emerge the event’s winningest.
After a dominating show in gymnastics, overall defending champion Bulacan flexed its might in elementary taekwondo being played in nearby Botolan town with five gold medals.
The 15-year-old Tibayan bloodied the nose of Aguas with a solid right straight, forcing the Tarlac bet to quit in the pinweight division.
Regelio Astudillo (light mosquito), Glerence Cuyapen (mosquito) and Verael Angelo dela Cruz (light flyweight) also bagged gold medals as Nueva Ecija extended its reign in secondary boxing to seven years.
The lone division that escaped Nueva Ecija’s gasp was light paperweight ruled by Byran Quitalig of Tarlac City.
Henry Openiano (1:15.78) and McTracy John Alindogan (1:26.41) topped the secondary and elementary boys’ 100m breaststroke and anchored their relay teams to victory as Angeles City wound up its pool campaign with 18 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze medals.
Olongapo settled for second with a 17-15-9 tally while Malolos was third with 16-19-12.
Dexter Lacuna powered Malolos’ campaign with five golds and ended his stint this year with victories in the boys’ 100m butterfly (1:03.56) and 200m freestyle (2:09.06).
Bulacan’s Laika Grace Marling, Ryshel Jasmine Ramirez, Jerico Canonigo, Cyril Capili and Nean Raeud De Leon topped five of the 12 divisions in the elementary taekwondo.
