TAGUM CITY—Samantha Cambronero led Davao City’s gold rush in the pool even as General Santos City bets dominated athletics and pencak silat yesterday in the Mindanao qualifiers of the 2013 Batang Pinoy Games.
Cambronero, 15, collected four gold medals in a dazzling performance in the girls’ 13-15 division, ruling the 50-meter and 200m breaststroke and the 50m butterfly before leading Davao City’s team to victory in the 200m medley relay at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Center pool.
The high school senior from Precious International School of Davao first won the 50m breaststroke in 38.61 seconds, beating Dana Izabel of Iligan City (39.68) and Ryle Coleen Regidor of Davao (42.48). Then she topped the 50m butterfly (35.31 seconds) and 200m breast (3:02.14).
“I trained hard for this and my clockings improved,” said Cambronero.
Davao City nailed 19 golds overall in the pool with Sheanetelle Fox, Katrina Nicole Aguelo and Fritz Rodriguez accounting for three victories each.
Aguelo struck in the girls’ 15-under 100m and 200m freesstyle before anchoring her team to the 200m free relay gold while Rodriguez took gold medals in the boys’ 12-under 50m breast, 200m breast and the 200m medley relay.
Fox teamed up with Pia Alissandra Ballos, Hakura Jade Shimizu and Cambronero in the 200m medley relay (2:26.26) after ruling the girls’ 11-12 200m and 400m free.
General Santos City shone in athletics through sprinter John Kenneth Nodos and Christine Joy Jorban, who captured three golds each in the weeklong games organized by the Philippine Sports Commission for athletes 15 years old and younger.
Nodos was declared winner of the boys’ 100m dash after a dead heat at 11.6 seconds with South Cotabato’s Fereboy Kasi. He followed it up with wins in the 400m and 4x100m relay.
Other gold medalists:
Athletics—Jorban (4x100m relay), Prince Arch Molles (1500 meters), Shiela Orot (400m) and Mary Jane Lawas (shot put).
Pencak silat—Zooey Lyn Buaron (girls’ 52-55kg), Jerswin Terrado (boys’ 58-61kg), James John Minao (37-40kg), Abdul Aziz Bandan (40-43kg), Jayron Bernaldez (43-46kg), Neil Earl Aurelio (46-49kg), Jolaine Saripada (49-52kg), Anna Mae Quinones (40-43kg) and Jhazel Bernaldez (37-40).
Chess—Andre Miguel Jorgio (boys’ blitz tournament), Ella Grace Moulic (girls’ blitz).
Boxing’s first-round winners—Ar-jay Recopelacion (32 kolograms), King Constantino Rigor (36 kg), Angelo Permito (38 kg), Redeem Recopelacion (40 kg), Jestine Tesoro (40 kg), Jake Sone Saludar (38 kg) and Jeffrey Miras (36 kg).