A day after torching the track, Laguna created huge ripples in the pool to hold sway in the Southern Luzon qualifying leg of the 2011 Batang Pinoy Games.
Catherine Bondad, 13, splashed her way to victory in the 50-meter freestyle (30 seconds) and 100m backstroke (1:14.89) while Joshua Casino ruled the boys’ 50m free (27.41) and 50m butterfly (29.85), as the host province Tuesday amassed 15 gold medals in swimming.
Bondad, who pocketed seven gold medals in this year’s Palarong Pambansa held in Dapitan City, capped it off by towing Laguna to the 200m medley relay gold.
“I’m determined to reach the national finals and earn a slot in the Youth Olympic Games,” said Bondad from San Beda Alabang.
Casino, voted MVP of the Singapore All-Nation Cup last month after winning four gold medals, is seeking to duplicate the feat in the Batang Pinoy.
“My goal is to win as many gold medals as possible and emerge as the most outstanding swimmer,” said the 13-year-old from San Beda Taytay.
Gold and silver medalists from the five qualifying legs will move to the national finals in Naga City on Dec. 10-13 where the finalists could earn slots to the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China.
Ariana Herranz, Joanna Coleen Simbulan and Jethro Roberts Chua also fished out two gold medals each from the pool for Laguna while Ron Derrick Alcantara and Gabriell Joshue Flores shared the limelight with victories in their events.
In track and field, Marimar Amarga’s triple feat in girls’ triple jump (9.79 meters), 400m run (1:08.2) and 100m dash boosted Laguna’s stock even as Darius Badillo and Gilbert Rutaquio added two more gold medals for the hosts.
Badillo captured his second gold in the boys’ triple jump (12.33 meters) after winning the long jump the other day while Rutaquio, gold-medal winner in the 800m, lorded it over in the 1500m run in five
minutes flat.
Antipolo’s Dustine De Vera broke into the Laguna stronghold with a victory in the 400m run.
Laguna also fashioned out victories in wrestling, sweeping the eight gold medals at stake in the Freestyle and Greco Roman events.
Jose Lawas punished his Freestyle opponents in the 42-kilogram and 47kg divisions while Nimrod Giman Jr. (35kg) and John Andrei Samadio (38kg) also clinched gold in the event.
Nerry Wilson Maneja (35kg), John Mikko Mantala (38kg), Allen John Dela Rueda (42kg) and Wawie Mantala (47kg) topped the Greco Roman side.
Christian Jorge Victorio sparkled for Laguna in table tennis, snaring the gold in boys’ singles and teaming up with Justine Antonial in the mixed doubles. Trisha Nicole Mae Suario of Lucban, Quezon averted a sweep with a victory in girls’ singles.
Meanwhile, Tayabas boxers EJ Narez (38kg), Renato Alias (40kg), Rammel Ofemaria (44kg), Archie Esteleyydes and Manuel Cabisda (44kg) and Jessie Diaz (50kg) outpointed their rivals to reach the championship round.