Youth Olympics Lifter Llena ends up fifth

THE PHILIPPINES remained in search of a medal in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore when Patricia Llena, touted as the Filipinos’ brightest hope, wound up fifth in her division in weightlifting at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall Tuesday night.   Llena’s finish among only seven entries in the 63 kg class came on the same day the 3-on-3 basketball team of Bobby Ray Parks, Jeron Teng, Cris Michael Tolomia and Michael Pate kissed their medal hopes goodbye after losing to Spain, 25-27, at the Scape Youth Space Court.   Llena, a native of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, who carried the country’s flag in Saturday’s opening rites, had the fourth-best effort in the snatch with 93 kg, but could only lift 95 kg in the clean and jerk for a 178 kg total.   Kazakhstan’s Zhazira Zapparkul took the gold with a total of 205 kg, including a remarkable 115 in the clean and jerk, while Diana Akhmetova (204) and Aremi Fuentes (194) clinched the silver and bronze, respectively.   The 16-year-old Llena, however, fared better than Michelle Kahi of Australia (166 kg) and Jessica Beed of the United States (165).   The country’s fading medal drive resumes Wednesday when Jasmine Alkhaldi, who finished 12th in the 100m freestyle Monday, plunges into action in her favorite 200m.   Tennis standout Jeson Patrombon lost his first-round match and fell to the consolation round, while taekwondo jin Kirk Barbosa lost to his Israeli foe in the first two days. Jessie King Lacuna fell by the wayside in the 200m free Monday, finishing eighth and dead last in the finals.