LOS BAÑOS—A pair of archers from the first authentic sports academy in the country sparked Camarines Sur to the early lead in the 3rd Philippine Olympic Festival Bicol-Southern Tagalog qualifying yesterday.
Kim Nelson Taugan and Ar-Jayson Esturas, student-athletes from the Cam Sur Sports Academy put up by Gov. LRay Villafuerte, accounted for nine of 11 gold medals the Bicolanos captured at the University of the Philippines ground here.
The 13-year-old Taugan bagged five golds after topping the 30 meters, 40 meters, 50 meters, FITA and Olympic round in the boys’ cub division while Esturas, 16, nailed four golds by matching Taugan’s feat except in the Olympic round of the junior boys’ category.
Esturas, a high school senior from CSSA who hails from Pili, missed the gold and this went to schoolmate King Albert San Juan.
Cam Sur’s last gold came in the boys’ team event as it prevailed over host UP-Los Baños and Laguna in the meet backed by Pagcor, Accel, Globe, Summit Mineral Water, AMA Computer College, Negros Navigation and Creativity Lounge.
Founded two years ago, the Cam Sur Sports Academy offers an elementary and secondary curriculum designed for athletes.
Host UPLB pocketed two golds in archery courtesy of Richard John Galagate (senior men) and April Ladia (senior women) while overall defending champion Laguna broke into the medal column behind Matthew Plaza’s win in the boys’ cadet category.
Puerto Princesa also clinched a first gold with a 21-13, 21-14 victory over Palawan in the 17-and-above regu event of sepak takraw.
In table tennis, six players from Rizal entered the quarterfinals after Rome Lopez, Crizedel dela Cruz and Rondell Blanco topped their respective classes in the boys’ under-17 and Rowena Morales, Lusha Maderal and Beatriz Magpantay ruled the girls’ under-17.
Laguna also remained in strong contention for the boys’ under-17 gold in table tennis as Christian Reyes, Louis Jerome Havana and Bert Abrenica likewise reached quarterfinals.
Hostilities in judo, arnis, karatedo, swimming and basketball start Friday.
