Baguio jins scoop golds; Cebu shines in futsal, karate

CEBU CITY—Baguio City found a trove of gold medals in taekwondo even as the host city continued its supremacy in futsal and karatedo yesterday in the 2015 POC-PSC Batang Pinoy National Finals at Cebu City Sports Complex.

Heavyweight Ejay Dongbo, featherweight James Emmanuelle Macasaet and welter Justin Carl Nacua delivered victories for the country’s Summer Capital together with lightweight Josea Dizon, Disney Romuar (light heavy) and bantam Rama Chandra Liporada.

They stole a piece of the limelight in contact sports after Davao Del Norte flaunted its might in full-contact arnis and Cebuano karatekas wound up superior on the judges scorecards following their flawless kata routines.

Lightweight Noah Gonzales, flyweight John Lloyd Canon, pin weight Mary Gwenith Lim and welter Harrison Cerillo got the host of the recent Palarong Pambansa going while Cebu also reached the podium courtesy of flyweight Nicole Angeli Tamayo, Antonio Sensal (feather) and John Michael Bonsua (middle).

Melquisedec Dela Victoria (+35kg), Marie Pauleen Cabrera (-35kg), Joseph Casquejo Jr. (boys’ -35kg) and Greg Christian Cabrera (+53kg) shone for Cebu in kata.

Daniel Deblois of Laguna pocketed two golds after winning the kata gold (44kg) and defeating Valgenel Gepolio of North Cotabato in the boys’ kumite later on.

Cebu City topped boys’ futsal with Kyle Ronquillo netting MVP honors while neighbor city Mandaue, fueled by Itsuko Maree Bacatan’s vigor, defeated Olongapo City in the finals for the girls’ title.

In women’s sepak takraw, Urdaneta City’s Jhoana Abulencia, Lara May Mamaradlo, Rizzalyn Amolacion and Noella Valdez frustrated Pangasinan’s Jarilyn Bautista, Jamaica Cabrera, Ellena Del Prado and Chezyll Santos in the championship.