Labao caps Baguio’s amazing pool haul in Batang Pinoy

BACOLOD CITY—It’s unlikely enough to mention Baguio City as a place where swimming is a favorite pastime or sport. Friday, Pines City tankers did the unthinkable.

Lorenzo Jenkins Labao came all the way from his chilly, mountainous hometown to sweep his seven swimming events at the Batang Pinoy national finals here.

The 15-year-old Labao bagged the boys’ 13-15 100-meter butterfly and 200m individual medley gold medals to cap his stunning performance and become the most decorated athlete in the week-long meet.

Training for just an hour at a time in chilly pool water and complementing it with stretching and jogging strengthened his resolve to surpass himself, Labao said.

“Because it’s cold (in Baguio), only a few of us excelled in the sport,” added Labao, a high school junior at University of Baguio Preparatory School. “Right now the pool water temperature there is two degrees Celsius.”

The 5-foot-8 standout earlier ruled the 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 400m individual medley, as well as the 200m medley and 200m freestyle relays along with Dan Christian Leyba, Renz Gawidan and Neil Nazarro.

Baguio’s haul of 10 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals in the pool was second only to powerhouse Quezon City’s 14-11-2 harvest.

Raissa Gavino and Kirsten Chloe Daos led the QC tankers with a combined six-gold output.

Davao City, Manila, Lucena and Bohol all snared five golds each, while highly regarded Laguna and Malolos City wound up with four golds apiece.

At first light, Julius Constantino of Sta. Rosa, Laguna, bested national pool reserve Frederick Albert Chiongbian of Cebu City for the boys’ triathlon gold.

Constantino, a 15-year-old student at Colegio San Agustin, pulled away in bike stage to clock 27 minutes over the 400m swim-8.4 km bike-2 km run event. Chiongbian, a candidate athlete for this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, timed 27:34, 15 seconds in front of Sam Ranque of Cainta.

Twelve-year-old Nicole Eijansantos of Quezon City ruled the girls’ race in 29:50, upending older rivals Lauren Justine Plaza of Laguna (30:05) and Victoria Deldio of Olongapo (30:39).

Iloilo City claimed nine of the 12 golds staked in arnis’ anyo (forms) with Crystal AJ Bartonico, of Jalandoni National High, accounting for three wins in single weapon solo, double weapon solo, and sword and dagger solo.

She later combined with Ma. Chabelita Gonzaludo and Marjorie Pudadera to sweep the team single weapon, double weapon, and sword and dagger golds.

In girls’ softball, World Series veteran Iloilo defeated General Santos City, 14-2, and Bacolod, 6-0, to post its fourth win in the seven-team tournament.