Palaro star Ilustre grabs 7 swimming golds in PNG Luzon leg

Sacho Ilustre of NCR. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Swimmer Maurice Sacho Ilustre ended up as the most illustrious athlete of the 2015 POC-PSC Philippine National Games Luzon qualifying leg.

The 16-year-old from De La Salle-Zobel finished the qualifier with seven individual gold medals in three days after adding the boys’ 100-meter butterfly and 50m freestyle to his mint collection in the pool Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Swimming Center.

Ilustre, who also bagged seven gold medals at the recent Palarong Pambansa in Davao del Norte all in record-smashing fashion, was two golds short of breaking the mark of London Olympian Jessie Khing Lacuna in the 2013 PNG national finals.

Lacuna set the standard for most victories registered in the national games for 16 years old and above with nine gold medals two years ago.

“My next goal is to win my events in the finals. If I beat the top swimmers there, I will join the national team,” said Ilustre.

Ilustre clocked 59.02 seconds in the 100m fly, beating Miguel Arellano of Quezon City (1:02.73) and Juan Carlos Abad (1:03.40). He also topped the 50m free in 25.44 seconds after touching the wall ahead of Robi Mangilinan of La Union (25.55) and John Angelo Vitug of Malolos, Bulacan (25.79).

Gold and silver-medal performers in the qualifying legs advance to the national finals tentatively set February next year in Pangasinan.

At the nearby wushu gym, Wyne Addamag won the male freestyle changquan in 8.92 points after defeating Kevin Massagan (8.72) with a near flawless routine while Denzel Kapawen scored 8.87 points for the gold in the male freestyle nanquan. Kapawen bested Bruce Tinaud (8.80) and Jacob Addagan (8.65).

Tinaud recovered lost ground by seizing the nandao gold to join Luwinda Goyone (female changquan), Inso Jones (male taijiquan), Marjorie Ngitew (female taijiquan), Fredielyn Bonalos (jianshu), Remelyn Villanueva (nandao) and the duilian pair of Raj Penada and Bjorn Lorca in the winners’ circle.

In fencing, Francois Noewll Licono of La Salle nailed the men’s individual foil gold after downing UP’s Rafael Alfonso Rondain, 15-10, in the finale. Ashley Espiritu of UST followed Licono at the podium after defeating UE’s Mickyle Bustos, 15-8, in the women’s epee championship at the Philsports fencing hall.

Nicole Pamintuan also shone in the pool with four golds after winding up the swim competitions with a pair of triumphs in the 200m individual medley and 50m backstroke.

Over at the Philsports track oval in Pasig City, Cesar Castaneta Jr. of Baguio City prevailed in the men’s 10,000m in 35 minutes and 57.06 seconds while Mapua’s Mark Vincent Ramos registered 7.07 meters to pocket the gold in the boys’ long jump.

Other winners in athletics were Jenelyn Arle (women’s shot put), Aldee Denuyo (women’s 100m dash), Eloiza Luzon (girls’ 100m), Alvin Valdenario (men’s 100m), Ivan Jeffrey Manjares (boys’ 100m) and Mariane Audrey Yorac (girls’ high jump).

In taekwondo, Baguio’s Kerby Bulwayan (finweight), UE’s Dain Brion (flyweight), Baguio’s Ivan Solimen (bantam), featherweight Raevid De Leon and lightweight Josh Rafols of FEU reigned in their respective weight categories.

Lady jins Angelica Gaw (flyweight), bantamweight Rainee Rose Arugay, featherweight Mary Cenica Quiambao and lightweight Lorena Tabiando also emerged victorious.