Swim golds cap Zamboanga’s Batang Pinoy triumph

MANILA, Philippines—Zamboanga City’s gold rush in swimming capped a week-long mastery of the host city in the Mindanao qualifying leg of the Batang Pinoy 2011.

Misamis Oriental came up with a deluge of medals in boxing on the final day of competition but Zamboanga’s haul of 85 gold medals, 105 silvers and 61 bronzes was just too overwhelming to conquer.

Zamboanga swimmers actually sealed the deal after fishing 23 golds, 27 silvers and 13 bronzes from the pool, creating a huge gap that separated the hosts from runner-up Davao City (36-31-47) and Dipolog City (31-37-25) on the final count.

General Santos City (28-10-9) and Davao Del Norte (28-8-7) also featured several gold-winning athletes aged 15 years and below who could represent the national team in foreign tournaments someday.

Organized by the Philippine Sports Commission in partnership with Smart, Maynilad and Summit Water, the Batang Pinoy serves as qualifier for athletes aspiring to the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China.

Four of seven MisOr boxers ruled their respective weight categories at the scenic Paseo del Mar.

Rapael Jalnaiz, son of two-time Olympian Roberto Jalnaiz, won the minimum weight category (38 kg) with a dominant 11-2 showing over Gingoog City’s Samuel Salve while Raynald Lao defeated Michael Codilla of Panabo City for MisOr’s second gold medal.

Roberto Miguel Jalnaiz, the Olympian’s other son, wound up triumphant in the paperweight (44 kg) and Daniel Maamo clinched the fourth gold with a 29-22 win over Panabo City’s Mark Andy Austria in the light pinweight (36 kg).

Providing solace for Panabo City were victories by Wen Joshua Vanguardia (antweight), Michale John Bahena (pinweight) and Jerson Fabricante (minimum weight), who was named Best Boxer of the tournament.

Visayas is the next stop of the Batang Pinoy scheduled Nov. 10 to 13 in Dumaguete City.

Gold-medal winners will advance to the national championship on December 10 to 13 in Naga City.

Multiple gold medalists Marietone Allysha Ledesma (five golds) and Ryan Kaith Regidor (five golds) of swimming are the leading aspirants for the Youth Olympics.