TAGUM CITY—Jomar Angga of Davao City bolted away from the pack in the last 800 meters to rule the boys’ 5,000-meter run yesterday in the Mindanao qualifying leg of the Batang Pinoy at Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Center here.
The sophomore from Davao City National High School raised both arms in celebration as he crossed the line in 19 minutes and 35.6 seconds to beat fellow Davaoeño and silver medalist Edrian Bentulan (19:54.0) and John Rey Ulanday of Koronadal City (20:04.7).
“It was very hot, so I grabbed the chance to pull away when they began to slow down,” said Angga, a son of a banana plantation worker, in Filipino. “I inherited the talent from my father. He taught me how to pace myself over long distances.”
The affable 13-year-old became the first qualifier in the finals of the meet slated in Zamboanga City on Nov. 19-23, where the medalists of all three qualifying legs compete for slots in the national team.
Christine Joy Jorban of General Santos City later joined Angga to the Zamboanga finals after snaring the gold medal in the girls’ long jump of the nationwide talent-search program organized by the Philippine Sports Commission for athletes 15 years old and below.
The 14-year-old Palarong Pambansa veteran cleared 4.76 meters on her fifth attempt, beating GenSan teammate Jessica Jane Cora (4.39) and Pauline Paquierda (4.31) of South Cotabato.
“I went to the Palaro thrice but I wasn’t lucky enough to win a medal,” said Jorban, a fan of two-time Olympian and former long jump queen Marestella Torres.
Thrower Asher Chem Sab made the host province proud after bagging the boys’ shot put gold (10.49 meters). Ronald Dendam of Davao City settled for the silver (9.26) and Kerl Hanez Aplaca of Iligan City placed third (9.10).
Also winning were Davao City’s Fernando Jison Jr. (boys’ high jump) and Friences Diane Balbaguio of Koronadal City (girls’ 2000m walk) before track and field organizers rescheduled all afternoon events early in the evening.
The 5-foot-11 Jison cleared the bar at 1.70 meters to beat General Santos City’s Louie Restauro (1.50m) and Joel Torralba Jr. of Davao City (1.30m) while finish line judges favored Balbaguio over Frencis May Dayon of Davao after both ended up in a rare dead heat with similar 14:38.2 clockings.
Davao del Norte also won its opening game in girls’ softball after thumping Cotabato, 12-5, in six innings.
Allaney Jia Doroy of Agusan del Sur showed the way in girls’ rapid chess with a victory over Lorraine Yngayo of Davao City to remain unbeaten after three rounds.
Daisiree Lyn Supan of Cabadbaran City and Janyl Domato of Midsayap, Cotabato also started out strong as both unrated chessers won their first two matches.
Princess Joy Atupan joined them in the winner’s bracket after downing Sarrah Mae Mosquera of Tagum City in the second round.