La Union archers hit target; Dasma chessers shine
VIGAN CITY—Archers from La Union have been accurately shooting their arrows in the 2017 Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy Games here.
With Olympic coach Henry Manalang as mentor, La Union scooped six gold medals from the archery range at San Ildefonso Elementary School with Francine Sophia Navor and Geriemee Ranchez bringing home two each.
The 15-year-old Navor compiled 635 points to seize the title in the 30-meter bowman girls’ qualification round before clinching the gold in the Olympic round, both at the expense of Makati City’s Sophia Kyran Manuel, who settled for silver medals.
“I have to give credit to the parents for pushing their children to train hard and compete,” said Manalang, who coached Filipino archer Jasmine Figueroa during the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Ranchez, another Manalang protégé, dominated the 20-meter yeoman boys’ qualification round by scoring 652 points to defeat Mikailo Ramirez of La Union (593 points) and Darick Faroden of Baguio City (584).
Ranchez also downed Ramirez and Faroden in the Olympic round for his second gold.
Frances Alexa Navor (yeoman girls’ Olympic round) and Carleen Sophia Flores (yeoman girls’ qualification) also contributed to
La Union’s haul.
The Dasmariñas City, Cavite chess team also swept the four golds offered in the rapid event.
Michael Concio Jr. ruled the boys’ 12-under, Kylen Joy Mordido topped the girls’ 15-under and Daniel Quizon asserted himself in the boys’ 15-under.
Quezon City, Marikina and Santa Rosa, Laguna, opened their campaign in girls’ volleyball with two victories each while Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Makati and Pasig prevailed in the boys’ side.
