Poomsae artist Eljay Marco Vista made the host city proud after snaring the first gold medal Monday in the Luzon leg of the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy in Iligan City.
The 12-year-old Vista showed exceptional form and technique in amassing 7.670 points in the cadet male individual poomsae in taekwondo to beat highly favored Palarong Pambansa gold medalist Kacey Canlas of Olongapo.
It was Vista’s first appearance in this weeklong event for in and out-of-school youth athletes aged 15 years old and below.
Canlas managed just 7.6 to settle for the silver while Wriely Canao of Baguio City, a team event gold medalist in last year’s Palaro in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, garnered 7.465 for the bronze.
“I’m so happy because I really prepared long and hard for this competition,” said Canlas, a Grade 6 student at Ilagan South Central School, in Filipino.
Ian Matthew Corton of Quezon City and Aesha Kiara Oglayon of Baguio City also struck with poomsae golds in the junior boys and cadet girls, respectively.
Corton tallied 8.105 points, besting King Nash Alcairo of Quezon Province with 8.04 and Emmanuel Christopher Austria of Naga City with 7.95 and Carl John Viloria of Alicia, Isabela, with 7.88 while Oglayon tallied 7.82 to edge Khyla Kreanzzel Guinto of Baguio with 7.765, Antonette Medallada of Parañaque with 7.65 and Princess Mariano of Pangasinan with 7.635.
In rapid chess, Mark Jay Bacojo of Dasmariñas, Cavite, and Jan Clifford Labog of Nueva Vizcaya downed Wayne Ruiz of Sta. Rosa and Alexis Vien Sim of Caloocan, respectively, to remain unscathed and at the helm after three rounds in the premier boys’ 15-under division.
Bacojo, a veteran internationalist, and Labog were playing at press time, hoping to seize the solo lead in this seven-round Swiss System tournament.
In basketball, Mandaluyong turned back Pasig, 51-50, Pangasinan smashed Mariveles, 77-26, and Polangui dumped Guinobatan, 71-50, to grab an early share of the lead.
Pangasinan also came out strong in volleyball as it bashed Mandaluyong, 25-7, 25-8, to join early winners Angeles, which whipped Sta. Rosa, 25-21, 25-22; Bataan, which trounced Muntinlupa, 25-13, 25-18; and Mariveles, which downed Candon, 25-7, 25-12.