Zamboanga athletes have tight grip on Batang Pinoy title

MANILA, Philippines—Host Zamboanga City looked poised to secure the overall crown after building a substantial lead in the medal tally with just four events still to be completed in the Mindanao Qualifying Round of the Batang Pinoy 2011.

The Zamboangueños collected 46 golds, 41 silvers and 30 bronze medals entering the final day of the competition, where golds in table tennis, chess, lawn tennis and boxing will be disputed.

Buoyed by victories in judo, where it claimed 11 of the 13 golds at stake, and full-contact arnis, Davao City moved up to second in the overall race after raising its medal haul to 27-21-22.

Davao del Norte, drawing strength from arnis, raised its tally to 13 gold, eight silver and four bronze medals, followed by Dipolog with 11-17-11 and General Santos City with 10-3-6.

Striking gold for Davao City in judo were Stephanie Calamba (44 kg), Charisse Divine Aseneta (48 kg), Alexis Belen (52 kg), Rizamae Laganze (57 kg) and Sydney Tancontian (63 kg) in the girls’ division and Chino Tancontian (42 kg), James Velez (46 kg), Christian Alibango (55 kg), Carl Dave Aseneta (66 kg) and Neil Eric Penera (90 kg) in the boys’ competition.

Davao City also bagged five golds in full-contact arnis thanks to Jennly Murcillo (girls’ -43kg), Loislyn Villocino (girls’ +47kg), Catherine Segura (girls’ +51kg), John Carl Fuentes (boys’ +43 kg) and Bill D. Amper (boys’ +51 kg).

Misamis Oriental is expected to make headway in the overall standings after seven of its nine boxers made the finals.

Two of Misamis’ top fighters are sons of former Olympian Roberto Jalnaiz. And they lived up to expectations as 12-year-old Rapael Jalnaiz defeated Khen John Samoranos of Panabo, 17-0, in the 38 kg class, while 14-year-old Roberto Miguel Jalnaiz beat Keyson Galeos of General Santos City, 20-6, in the 44 kg division.

Davao del Norte also sent six boxers to the finals aside from making its presence felt in athletics, where Carlo Caong and Kimberly Dangli captured the boys and girls’ javelin throw.

General Santos City’s Ever Jones Diaz turned out to be the biggest star at the track, ruling the 100- and 200-meter events with clockings of 11.7 and 24. 4 seconds, respectively.

The gold medal winners in the qualifying stage of the Batang Pinoy, organized by the Philippine Sports Commmission in partnership with Smart, Maynilad and Summit Drinking Water, will advance to the 2011 national championship on Dec. 10 to 13 in Naga City.