Pacesetting Cebu, Bohol rule pool wars

TACLOBAN CITY—Cebu City’s juggernaut extended to medal-rich swimming while scoring victories in weightlifting, chess and karatedo yesterday in the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Olympic Committee Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifying leg.

But Bohol province grabbed a piece of the limelight when it made a stunning 13-gold romp in swimming, matching Cebu’s haul in the Leyte Sports Academy pool.

Rian Marco Tirol sparked Bohol’s golden splurge with four victories. He topped the boys’ 12-under 50-meter breaststroke, 50m butterfly and 200m breast, then added a fourth gold in the 200m medley relay race with the squad that also included Job Vincent Aseniero, Patrick Louie Birad and Gabriel Manigque.

Bohol sent athletes only in swimming, and almost all 15 of them garnered medals.

Cebu City paraded its own four-gold winner in swimming, where its 13 victories boosted the delegation’s overall golden haul to 34 on the second day of this competition for athletes 15 years old and younger.

Karen Mae Indaya matched Tirol’s feat by ruling the girls’ 13-15 400-meter freestyle, 800m free and 200m free, before teaming up with Justine Reign Garrido, Tara Kyla Ebon and Micah Marie Dela Cerna in winning the 200m medley relay.

Also delivering for Cebu City were Michael Ichiro Kong in the boys’ 13-15 200m butterfly and 50m fly, Madelin Capacio in the girls’ 13-15 200m back and 200m fly, Garrido in the girls’ 13-15 50m breast and 200m breast, Val Andrei Chiu in the boys’ 11-12 100m free, Rafael John Dacaldacal in the boys’ 13-15 200m back, and Ebon in girls’ 11-12 800m free.

The other Bohol swim champs were Kay Liezlie Paredes in the girls’ 12-under 50m breast and 200m breast, Jess Kenneth Omac in the boys’ 11-12 400m free and 200m free, and Aseniero in the boy’s 13-15 50m breast and 200m breast, Zean Angelo Plateros in the boys’ 11-12 200m backstroke, Jan Niño Rosales in the boys’ 11-12 200m fly and Birad in the boys’ 13-15 100m free.

Swimming also saw host Maasin City nail its first gold after Aris Maceda ruled the girls’ 13-15 50m fly.

Cebu also flexed its muscle in kara-tedo with 11 golds and added three wins each in weightlifting and chess.

Princess Gale Tirol topped the girls’ 44 kg while teammates Justine Mendoza won the boys’ 34 kg, and Patrick Castanares the boys’ 38 kg.

Tagbilaran nailed golds through Jonasan Alegado in the girls’ 32 kg  and Ma. Paula Lamit in the 36 kg of the event held at Maasin bus terminal.

Cebu missed a four-gold sweep of chess at RKK function house with Bohol’s Jesca Docena topping the girls’ rapid. The Cebuano champs were Christian Klent Pondoyo (rapid), Vic Glysen Derotas  (girls’ blitz) and James Andrew Balbona (blitz).

Iloilo City and Iloilo province, which opted to focus on arnis, ruled the sport held at Ma. Clara Gym. Crystal AJ Bartonico of Iloilo City swept the golds in anyo single weapon, identical weapon and sword and dagger. Iloilo province’s Jannery Pinas matched the feat in the boys’ category.