Jean Vasquez Caluscusin upset the favored Anica Joy Sirios yesterday to win the gold medal in women’s rhythmic gymnastics of the POC-PSC Philippine National Games at the GAP gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The 5-foot-2 Caluscusin, a BS Education senior at Far Eastern U, beat the former national junior champion with a total score of 35.925 points on the strength of her strong performances in the ribbon (9.35) and clubs (9.30). She tallied 8.65 in the ball and 8.625 in the hoop.
Sirios settled for the silver with 34.750 points while Cebu champion Mary Carmeli Garovillo, who encountered problems in the ribbon event, placed third (34.425).
“I worked hard for this after placing second last year,’’ said Caluscusin, who finished runner-up last year to Garovillo.
In the junior championship, Mikhaela Silverio pocketed the gold despite suffering a sprain in the ribbon event. Silverio tallied 35.925 to beat silver medalist Kimberly Paler of Cebu and bronze finisher AJ Melgar.
Garovillo, the dethroned champion from Banawa, Cebu, wilted in the ribbon routine after scoring only 7.10 points.