Baguio judo bets shine

MANILA, Philippines — Therese Rae Ramas and Floremel Rodriguez of Southwestern University and Kris Roy Guzman and Mark Gil Alfafara of University of Santo Tomas dominated beach volleyball even as judo bets from Baguio shone Saturday in the PSC-POC Philippine National Games.

Ramas and Rodriguez had an easy time clinching the women’s beach volley gold medal with a 21-10, 21-12 victory over incoming UST freshmen Cherry Ann Rondina and Rica Jane Rivera.

Guzman and Alfafara encountered stiff resistance from Aga Tahiluddin and Halim Khan of Mindanao State University before hammering out a 21-23, 26-24, 15-8 win in the men’s division at Rizal Memorial beach volley court.

Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Helen Dawa led Baguio’s golden rush in judo at the Makati Coliseum by prevailing in the 48-kg division.

The other Baguio winners were Helen Aclopen (-48 kg), Jona Jane Dodon (-57 kg), Donabel Tobias (-63 kg) and Annette Joy Nang-is (+78 kg) in the women’s division, and Hilario Fiacayyao (-81 kg), Baniwell Amistad (-55kg), Francisco Masnan (-66kg), Rodhanson Nang-is (-55 kg), Renato Stalin (-60kg) and Kevin Pang-et (-73kg) in the men’s side.

At Fort Bonifacio firing range, Amparo Teresa Acuna fired 393 points for the gold in the women’s 10m air rifle. Jayson Valdez claimed the gold in the men’s division with 589 points.

Filipino American MMA fighter Mark Streigl tried his hand in freestyle wrestling and prevailed in the 70-kg category.

The Baguio-based Streigl, a submission expert and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belter, beat national grappler Jefferson Manatad, King Brian Guingona and Michael Natividad for the gold.

Alvin Lobriguito (57 kg), Johny Morte (61 kg), Meldion Penion (50 kg) and Joseph Angana (65 kg) also prevailed to keep their spots in the national men’s freestyle team.

At the Marikina Sports Center, powerlifters Jessie Kiamco of Leyte Sports Academy (men’s 52 kg), Timothy Amiel Ngo (59 kg), Isiah de Villa of Gold’s Gym (66 kg), Vener Baclig (74 kg) and Raymond Debuque of Zest Power Gym (+74 kg) topped their categories.

Clinching gold medals in chess were Grandmaster Darwin Laylo (men’s Asean blitz), Woman Fide Master Janelle Mae Frayna (Asean blitz), Woman International Master Catherine Perena (Asean rapid).

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